The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, is facing early security concerns after the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on Saturday.
The expanded 48-team tournament will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
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The escalation comes just months before kickoff, with matches scheduled across multiple host cities in North America.
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Iran secured qualification through the Asian Football Confederation pathway and has been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. Two of Iran’s group matches are slated for Los Angeles, with the third scheduled for Seattle.
World football’s governing body, FIFA, confirmed it is monitoring developments following the strikes.
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FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the organisation is assessing the situation but stopped short of a detailed comment.
“I read the news (about Iran) this morning the same way you did,” Grafstrom said at the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales, according to ESPN.
“We had a meeting today, and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.”
The World Cup draw was held in Washington, D.C., in December, with Iran officially represented at the ceremony.
Grafstrom added that FIFA remains in continuous communication with the three host governments.
“We will continue to communicate as we always do with the three (host) governments, as we always do in any case,” he said. “Everybody will be safe.”
