Iran demands FIFA guarantees to participate in the 2026 World Cup
The President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, confirmed that he will meet with the President of the International Federation of Football Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino in the coming days to discuss the guarantees after his country's team was subjected to any insult during its participation in the World Cup of America.
Taj explained in statements to the Iranian Radio and Television Corporation on Wednesday evening, May 6, that his country "will not participate" in the 2026 World Cup in the event of offending Iranian state institutions during the team's presence in the United States, as he described it.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry supported Taj's position, saying that FIFA and host governments should secure visas and facilities without political considerations, stressing that the team is participating in an official tournament and not a political visit.
The host countries of the 2026 World Cup (Canada, the United States, Mexico) announced last week that Taj had been barred from entering their territory because of his ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Iranian preparations. And fluctuations between Trump and FIFA
The coach of the Iranian national team, Amir Ghalinavi, told the official media that the team plans to arrive in the United States 14 days before the start of the tournament, to try to play friendly matches, but attempts to arrange international meetings have faced difficulties due to the withdrawal of some teams at the last minute.
Iran will announce its squad for the World Cup after a training camp in Turkey on May 16, with the team arriving in the United States in late May and starting its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
Earlier in April, FIFA confirmed that Iran's participation was finalized, noting that the United States had provided guarantees to receive the team in accordance with the regulations, as Infantino reported that US President Donald Trump had pledged to allow the entry of the Iranian mission.
But Trump later set a different tone on the Truth Social platform, considering that the participation of the Iranian team may not be appropriate in light of the security risks resulting from regional tensions and the US-Israeli raids on Tehran, but nevertheless, he stressed that the Iranian team is welcome in the United States.
Sports disputes with a political background
The dispute began in late April when Canada denied entry to Mehdi Taj because of his previous ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, prompting the Iranian delegation to return from the Canadian border ahead of a congressional and FIFA meeting in Vancouver, demanding official guarantees from Tehran before participating in the World Cup.
The remarks come at a time when U.S.-Iranian relations are witnessing escalating tensions, raising questions about Iran's ability to participate in a tournament hosted by the United States, at a time when FIFA has stressed that sports should remain away from political differences, and that the logistical and security arrangements for the Iranian team will be made in accordance with international standards.
The United States will host the 2026 World Cup in a historic joint event with Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams participating for the first time.
The tournament will be hosted by U.S. stadiums with a total of 78 games out of 104, the second in U.S. history after the 1994 edition, when the tournament kicks off on June 11.