People gather to attend the farewell ceremony of Iran's national football team ahead of their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Tehran on May 13, 2026. The president of the Iranian Football Federation said late May 9 that if Iran dropped out of the World Cup, it would deprive the country of a "major diplomatic asset". World football's governing body FIFA has insisted for weeks that Iran will take part. Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)