FIFA’s Infantino says Iran will participate in World Cup ‘for sure’ despite war
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will participate in the World Cup “for sure” despite its war with the United States.
Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum, Infantino said it is important that Iran participates in the World Cup even though its participation has been in doubt since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on the country.
“The Iranian team is coming for sure, yes,” Infantino said. “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Antalya, Turkey, two weeks ago and said Wednesday he was impressed.
“I went to see them. They are actually quite a good team as well,” Infantino said. “And they really want to play and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics now.”
Infantino acknowledged it’s not always possible to achieve the separation of sports and politics.
“OK we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino said. “But you know if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them, you know, intact and together, well we are doing that job.”
The United States will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Advertisement Advertisement
Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle.
The war has raised doubts about Iran’s participation in the World Cup. There have been conflicting public comments from Iranian government and soccer officials. President Trump discouraged the Iranian team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.
Ticket sticker shock: Earlier this week, FIFA added expensive new tiers of tickets for this year’s event, asking up to $4,105 for a front category 1 seat at the U.S. opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12.
Last week, FIFA had asked for a top price of $2,735 for category 1 tickets for the match but added new “front category” pricing.
FIFA also added a front category 2 tier to its ticket sales website without public announcement, asking $1,940 to $2,330 for those tickets for the U.S. opener. The new categories were first reported Thursday by The Athletic.
Advertisement Advertisement
The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Soccer’s governing body had in its Sept. 9 “ticket products and categories” information called category 1 “the highest-priced seats, located primarily in the lower tier” but appears to have withheld some seats from that category. It had labeled category 2 as “positioned outside of category 1 areas, available in both lower and upper tiers.”
FIFA last week raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380, up from $5,575, and category 3 cost $5,785, an increase from $4,185.
Advertisement Advertisement
No tickets appeared to be available for the final on Thursday on FIFA’s ticket site.