Table of Contents
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup hangs in the balance as the country’s soccer chief prepares to demand formal guarantees from FIFA that Iran’s state institutions—particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—will not be “disrespected” during the tournament in the United States .
Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj announced on Wednesday that he will meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the coming days to seek assurances that would allow Iran to travel to the US for the June 11 to July 19 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada .
The Trigger: A Diplomatic Incident in Canada
Taj’s demand follows a recent diplomatic incident in which he and his delegation were denied entry into Canada to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. While Taj claimed the group chose to return home due to “disrespectful treatment,” Canada’s immigration minister confirmed that Taj’s visa had been revoked because of his alleged links to the IRGC—an organization that both Canada and the US classify as a “terrorist entity” .
Canada listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2024, five years after the United States made a similar designation .
Iran’s Stance: “Our Host Is FIFA, Not Trump”
Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, Taj made Iran’s position clear: the team will not participate if FIFA cannot provide guarantees .
“We will tell FIFA what our expectations are. If they can address them, we will definitely participate,” Taj said. “But if there is no guarantee that they will be addressed, then no one has the right to insult us or the pillars of our system” .
Taj emphasized that Iran considers FIFA—not the United States or President Trump—as the host of the tournament . “We are going to the World Cup, for which we qualified, and our host is FIFA – not Mr. Trump or America,” he stated .
“If they accept hosting us, then they must also accept that they must not insult our military institutions in any way,” he added .
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei backed Taj’s stance, arguing that host governments have an obligation under FIFA regulations to provide visas “without taking political considerations or motives into account” .
US Position: Players Welcome, IRGC Ties Not
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified Washington’s position: Iranian players are welcome to compete, but individuals with ties to the IRGC will not be admitted to the United States .
This creates a direct conflict, as Taj himself served as a high-ranking official with the IRGC in Isfahan Province before transitioning to soccer administration. The delegation that was turned away from Canada included Taj and other FFIRI officials .
FIFA’s Response: Invitation for Talks
FIFA has moved to de-escalate the situation. Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom sent a letter expressing regret over the “inconvenience and disappointment” experienced by the Iranian delegation in Canada and has formally invited the FFIRI to Zurich for talks by May 20 .
FIFA President Infantino has repeatedly affirmed that Iran will play its scheduled matches in the United States, stating at the FIFA Congress: “We have to unite. We have to bring people together. It is my responsibility” .
Preparation Plans Amid Uncertainty
Despite the political turbulence, Iran’s national team, Team Melli, continues to prepare for the tournament :
- A 30-man preliminary squad will be selected this week, later reduced to the final 26 players
- The team will hold a two-week training camp in Turkey starting May 16
- From there, they plan to arrive in the US 14 days before their opening match
- Iran’s US base will be at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona
- Coach Amir Ghalenoei hopes to arrange two or three warm-up matches, though securing opponents has been difficult
Iran’s World Cup Schedule
Iran is drawn in Group G and is scheduled to play:
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 15 | New Zealand | Los Angeles |
| June 21 | Belgium | Los Angeles |
| June 26 | Egypt | Seattle |
What’s Next
The upcoming meeting between Taj and Infantino in Zurich will be decisive. If FIFA cannot provide the guarantees Taj demands, Iran may withdraw from the tournament—or its delegation could be turned back at the US border, repeating the Canadian incident on an even更大 scale.
For now, the world waits to see whether diplomacy or geopolitics will determine Iran’s fate at the 2026 World Cup.
