Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj has announced that he will meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino within the next three to four days to seek assurances that his country will be treated with respect at the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Background of the Dispute
Canada recently denied entry to Taj due to his alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a group classified as a terrorist entity by both the US and Canada. Taj stated on Tuesday that Iran would boycott the tournament if FIFA could not guarantee respect for Iranian institutions in the US, where the team will be based and play all three group matches.
“We will tell FIFA what our expectations are. If they can address them, we will definitely participate,” Taj told state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran on Wednesday. “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. And if they continue on the path of disrespect, and even ask our players those kinds of questions, we may make a different decision.”
Support from Iranian Foreign Ministry
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei backed Taj’s stance on Wednesday. “Our national football team is not travelling to the United States; rather we are going there to take part in the FIFA World Cup. Therefore, it is FIFA’s responsibility to provide all the necessary facilities and conditions,” Baghaei told reporters in Tehran. He added that host governments have a clear obligation under FIFA regulations to provide visas without political considerations.
“We hope that FIFA, if only for the sake of preserving its own credibility, will certainly take the necessary measures,” Baghaei said.
Uncertainty Over Iran’s Participation
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February, triggering regional conflict. Taj also mentioned that a preliminary 30-man squad would be selected this week, later reduced to 26 after a training camp in Turkey.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei told state media that the squad plans to arrive in the US 14 days before the tournament starts, following a two-week camp in Turkey. Ghalenoei expressed a desire for two or three warm-up matches, but attempts to arrange friendlies have been difficult as teams pulled out at the last minute.
The squad will remain in Tehran for another week before heading to Turkey on May 16, where Iran played friendlies against Costa Rica and Nigeria in late March. Team Melli is scheduled to begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The team’s US base will be at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
