FIFA World Cup 2026: Infantino praises Iran's unbeaten WC campaign despite group-stage exit
New York, July 1
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Iran for remaining unbeaten in a difficult World Cup group, saying the team demonstrated outstanding quality, teamwork, passion and determination throughout the tournament.
Although they fell short of progressing, he thanked the players for competing with heart and giving their supporters plenty to be proud of.
Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign saw them draw all three of their group-stage matches, but they were eliminated after finishing third in Group G behind Belgium and Egypt, and also missing out on qualification as one of the best third-placed teams.
"Remaining unbeaten through a challenging @fifaworldcup group stage is a remarkable feat that proved your exceptional quality and teamwork to the world. Unfortunately, it was not enough to progress, but your passion and desire was there for all to see. Thank you for playing with such heart and for giving everyone so much to be proud of," Infantino wrote in an Instagram post.
Iran's participation in the tournament had been in doubt for months after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on the country in February.
In their last group-stage match against Iran, Mahmoud Sabre gave the Pharaohs the lead after Mohamed Salah's effort was parried, before Ramin Rezaeian equalised for Iran after Mehdi Taremi had earlier seen his penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir.
Ramin Rezaeian was named Player of the Match, but Iran's late push for victory ended in frustration when a stoppage-time goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Unbeaten is unbeaten! Iran should be proud of themselves. In Indian cricket, we always celebrate our team's achievements, and here Iran showed real grit. Yes, they didn't make it past the group stage, but three draws against tough opponents is no small feat. The spirit of the game matters too. 👏
Typical FIFA politics! Infantino is just trying to appease Iran because of the geopolitical tensions. India has seen similar things in cricket with ICC bending rules for certain nations. The fact that Iran's participation was in doubt due to airstrikes shows how politics overshadows sport. Focus on the game, not the diplomacy.
Rising against adversity is what makes sports beautiful. Iran faced bomb threats and still managed to hold their own against top teams. As an Indian, I can relate to the underdog spirit. Our football team may not be at the World Cup yet, but we know the value of playing with heart. True champions aren't always the ones who win. 💪
Sorry, but remaining unbeaten with three draws is not something to celebrate excessively. In any sport, you need wins to advance. India's cricket team doesn't get praised for just showing up and drawing matches. Infantino's statement feels like empty flattery. Iran played well, but let's not pretend they were world-beaters.
The fact that they even participated after airstrikes is incredible. In India, we see similar situations with athletes from conflict zones who overcome so much. Iran's resilience should be celebrated,
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.