On Saturday, Iran’s soccer federation confirmed that the country will “definitely” participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They urged the tournament hosts— the United States, Canada, and Mexico— to address Iran’s concerns regarding travel and player treatment.
According to Iranian media, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, stated, “All players and technical staff, particularly those who have completed military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, should be granted visas without any issues.”
The Iranian team represents a nation currently in a delicate ceasefire with the United States, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. Additionally, Iranian citizens face a travel ban instituted during the Trump administration.
Taj further elaborated that Iran has laid out specific conditions for their participation, which include assurances regarding visas, security, and the treatment of Iranian players and officials. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic would engage in the tournament “without compromising our beliefs, culture, and values.”
The announcement follows an incident last month where Canadian authorities denied Taj entry before a FIFA Congress, reportedly due to his previous ties to the Revolutionary Guard, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Canada.
Taj has continuously requested assurances from FIFA that Iranian officials, players, and symbols such as the national flag and anthem will be treated with dignity during the World Cup.
Concerns about visa issues for those who have fulfilled their military service in the Guard have been previously voiced by others.
– Iran’s Ali Gholizadeh out of World Cup due to knee injury
– Iran soccer officials to meet with FIFA over World Cup plans
These visa issues could impact key players like Mehdi Taremi, the team’s captain and striker, who has also completed his mandatory military service in the Guard. In Iran, conscripts are often assigned to either the police or military, frequently by random selection.
Iran’s team is set to face Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt in Group G, starting their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Inglewood, near Los Angeles.
Having qualified for four consecutive World Cups and a total of seven, Iran has yet to progress beyond the group stage. Currently ranked 21st in the world, the team lost only one match during the Asian qualifying rounds.