FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström says the governing body remains committed to having every qualified nation compete at the 2026 World Cup, despite escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.

The U.S. carried out missile attacks on Iran on Saturday and Sunday, with US President Donald Trump describing the operation as a “major combat mission.” Iran responded with strikes on US air bases in the Gulf, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

The developments come just months before Iran is due to travel to the United States for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a third in Seattle on June 26.

Speaking at the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales, Grafström said FIFA is closely monitoring the situation but remains focused on ensuring the tournament proceeds safely and inclusively.

“I read the news this morning the same way you did,” Grafström said. “It is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.

“Our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. We will continue to communicate with the three host governments as we always do. Everybody will be safe.”

However, questions remain about Iran’s participation due to US travel restrictions. Iran is among 19 countries included in a travel ban announced by the Trump administration in June last year, potentially complicating entry for Iranian citizens.

In December, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj warned that some national team players and staff could face visa denials because of prior military service. Several players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US government designates as a foreign terrorist organization.

The U.S. State Department has not ruled out the possibility that certain Iranian players could be denied visas, adding further uncertainty to Iran’s path to the 2026 tournament.

Afghanistan’s ruling authorities say Pakistani forces carried out overnight strikes on residential areas in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, as tensions along the frontier continue to escalate.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said the attacks occurred around 11:00 p.m. Saturday. According to his account, drone strikes hit civilian homes in the Ghani Khil district of Nangarhar province, destroying four houses. He said two people, including a woman, were killed and two others wounded.

In a separate incident in Dand Patan district of Paktia province, Fitrat said a mortar round struck a residential house, killing one civilian and injuring another.

Pakistani authorities have not immediately responded to the allegations, and the claims could not be independently verified.

Rising Tensions

The reported strikes come amid days of heavy clashes along the disputed Durand Line, particularly near key crossings such as Torkham. Both sides have accused each other of initiating hostilities, with artillery exchanges, drone activity and ground engagements reported in several eastern districts.

The border region has long been volatile due to disputes over fencing, militant movements and sovereignty claims. Recent fighting has displaced families, damaged homes and disrupted trade routes that are vital to local economies.

Fitrat described the incidents as a continuation of what he called “crimes by Pakistan’s military regime,” arguing that targeting civilian areas violates humanitarian principles and international norms.

As military operations intensify on both sides of the frontier, residents in affected districts fear further escalation and additional civilian harm unless diplomatic efforts are revived.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense says its forces carried out coordinated retaliatory strikes overnight in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Paktia and Khost, amid intensifying clashes with Pakistan along the disputed Durand Line.

In a statement, the ministry said units from the 203rd Mansouri Corps, 201st Corps and 205th Al-Badr Corps took part in the operations, describing the response as “intense and targeted.”

Officials said the strikes were conducted using what they termed advanced military equipment, including laser-guided systems.

According to the ministry, four enemy positions were seized during the operations. It also claimed that landmine explosions killed 32 Pakistani soldiers and wounded dozens more, while two drones were shot down and several military assets destroyed.

The figures could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Pakistani authorities.

Escalating border conflict

The latest operations come amid days of heavy fighting along the contested Durand Line, particularly near key crossings such as Torkham. The frontier has long been a source of friction between Kabul and Islamabad, with disputes over fencing, shelling and militant activity frequently sparking armed confrontations.

Recent clashes have reportedly forced civilians to flee districts in the vicinity, disrupting trade routes and raising fears of a broader military escalation between the two neighbors.

Government signals continued operations

Afghan defense officials emphasized that their forces remain on high alert and prepared to continue operations if necessary, saying regional security and territorial integrity remain their top priorities.

Analysts warn that without urgent diplomatic engagement, the cycle of retaliation risks deepening instability in eastern Afghanistan and straining already tense relations between Kabul and Islamabad.