FIFA rules out postponement of World Cup 2026 despite Middle East tensions  

FIFA officials saycurrent situation in region will not lead to postponement of global football tournament planned for later this year  

ZURICH: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 11^th, 2026) Global football governing body FIFA has announced that the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 will proceed as scheduled despite rising tensions in the middle East due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

FIFA officials said the current situation in the region would not lead to the postponement of the global football tournament planned for later this year.

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said that all matches would be held according to the announced schedule, adding that postponing a tournament of such magnitude was not feasible.

He expressed hope that the situation in the region would improve before the start of the event, enabling all qualified teams to participate in the competition.

Schirgi added that FIFA was closely monitoring developments in the region and remained in continuous contact with international and local authorities regarding the security situation.

Meanwhile, the Iran national football team has been placed in Group G of the tournament alongside Egypt national football team, New Zealand national football team and Belgium national football team.

According to the schedule, Iran will play two of its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. FIFA officials said preparations for the tournament were continuing as planned while the governing body kept a close watch on the evolving situation in the Middle East.