Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, is set to hold talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding what Iran describes as the need to ensure appropriate respect for its national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The meeting is expected to take place within the next three to four days, according to Taj, who made the announcement on Wednesday. The 2026 tournament is scheduled to begin on 11 June and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Tensions have emerged ahead of the tournament after Canada recently denied entry to Mehdi Taj. Canadian authorities stated that the decision was linked to allegations of his association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful branch of Iran’s armed forces.
Following this, Taj warned on Tuesday that Iran may reconsider its participation if FIFA cannot guarantee respect for Iranian state institutions in the United States. He noted that the Iranian national team will be based in the United States during the competition and will play all three of its group-stage matches there.
Speaking to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran, Taj stated that Iran would formally present its expectations to FIFA. He added that participation would depend on whether these conditions are met, stressing that no party has the right to disrespect Iranian state institutions or officials.
He further warned that continued incidents of perceived disrespect, including politically sensitive questioning of players, could lead Iran to consider alternative decisions regarding participation.
The United States and Canada have both designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and maintain restrictions on entry for individuals associated with it. Taj previously held a senior position within the IRGC in Isfahan province before entering football administration.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed support for Taj’s position. Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in Tehran that Iran’s national team is not merely travelling to the United States but is participating in the FIFA World Cup. He added that FIFA is responsible for ensuring proper conditions and facilities, and that host countries are obliged to comply with FIFA regulations and issue necessary visas without political interference.
Iran is scheduled to compete in Group G, with all matches arranged across venues in the United States. The team’s fixtures are as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June | New Zealand | California |
| 21 June | Belgium | California |
| 26 June | Egypt | Seattle |
Iran will begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in California, followed by matches against Belgium at the same venue and Egypt in Seattle. The forthcoming meeting between Iran’s football leadership and FIFA is expected to address issues related to participation conditions, travel arrangements and treatment of officials and players during the tournament.