"The Iranian team is coming, for sure. Yes. We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play."
"I went to see them two weeks ago, they were having a training camp in Antalya. And they really want to play. And they should play -- sports should be outside of politics."
"Now, OK -- we don't live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the World Cup, despite concerns over the ongoing conflict with the United States. Iranian officials had suggested the team might not be able to travel to the U.S. or requested to move games to Mexico, but FIFA rejected this. Infantino emphasized the importance of sports transcending politics and expressed hope for a peaceful situation by the tournament. The Iranian team is expected to arrive in Tucson, Arizona, for training ahead of their first match on June 15.
Read at ESPN.com
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