The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has confirmed it will meet with FIFA officials in the coming days to seek assurances regarding Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FFIRI president Mehdi Taj said the federation wants clear guarantees over how Iranian players, officials, and delegates will be treated during the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The issue has emerged amid rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, along with concerns surrounding travel restrictions and visa approvals for Iranian officials linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Taj recently faced controversy after reportedly being denied entry into Canada because of alleged past links to the IRGC, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by both the United States and Canada. The incident triggered fresh concerns within the Iranian federation ahead of the World Cup next month.
Speaking to Iranian media, Taj stressed that FIFA must ensure Iranian representatives are treated “with dignity and respect” during the tournament. He warned that Iran could reconsider participation if sufficient guarantees are not provided.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also backed the federation’s stance, stating that host nations and FIFA are obligated to facilitate the participation of all qualified teams without political discrimination.
Despite the controversy, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly insisted that Iran will participate in the World Cup as scheduled. He recently confirmed that the Iranian national team would play its matches in the United States despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions.
Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after successfully navigating the AFC qualification campaign and will make its seventh appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
According to reports, Iran’s squad plans include a preparatory training camp in Turkey before the team travels to the United States on June 1 ahead of its opening group-stage match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
The situation has added another layer of uncertainty to an already politically sensitive World Cup, with FIFA continuing to face scrutiny over security, travel access, and diplomatic challenges linked to participating nations
Discussion about this post