- the Iranian football body insisted that the country would take part in the competition while maintaining its national identity
- Among the demands are guarantees that visas will be issued without restrictions
- The team is scheduled to begin its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15
Iran Football Federation has confirmed that the country’s national team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but said the tournament’s co-hosts, United States, Mexico and Canada, must address several concerns raised by Tehran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Eko Hot Blog gathered the federation’s statement follows a diplomatic row after Canadian authorities reportedly denied entry to federation president Mehdi Taj ahead of the recent FIFA Congress because of alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada designated a terrorist organisation in 2024.
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Iran’s participation in the World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, had faced uncertainty following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East earlier this year involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
In a statement published on Saturday, the Iranian football body insisted that the country would take part in the competition while maintaining its national identity and principles.
Mehdi Taj disclosed during an interview with Iranian state television that the federation had outlined 10 conditions for attending the tournament, mainly centred on the treatment of Iranian players, officials and symbols during the event.
Among the demands are guarantees that visas will be issued without restrictions and assurances that the Iranian flag, anthem and team officials will be treated respectfully throughout the competition.
The federation also requested enhanced security arrangements at airports, hotels and stadium routes for the national team.
The issue of visas has drawn attention because several Iranian players and officials previously served compulsory military duty linked to the IRGC.
Iranian authorities specifically called for smooth visa approvals for players such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iranian footballers would be welcomed into the United States for the tournament, although he noted that individuals linked to the IRGC could still face travel restrictions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also maintained that Iran’s World Cup fixtures in the United States will proceed as planned.
Iran are expected to camp in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament and have been drawn in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.
The team is scheduled to begin its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
The Iranian federation stressed that no outside force should prevent the country from participating in a tournament for which it qualified on merit.
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