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The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran confirmed Saturday that the national team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the ongoing conflict but sought guarantees from hosts the U.S., Canada and Mexico on 10 conditions for participation.
"We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account," the federation stated on its official website.
The federation insisted that "no external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit," adding that the team would attend "without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions."
Federation President Mehdi Taj told Iranian state television that the demands include guarantees that players and staff will receive visas without complications, respect for Iran’s flag and national anthem, and heightened security measures at airports, hotels and travel routes connected to matches.
Taj specifically referred to players and staff members who completed military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, insisting they should not face visa barriers.
"U.S. authorities must provide the highest levels of security and protective protocols at airports, hotels, main roads, and stadiums to prevent any incidents," he stated.
Taj added that supporters should only be allowed to carry officially recognized national flags into stadiums, with any flag other than the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran prohibited.
Among Tehran’s other requests, Iranian officials demanded that the national anthem be played "correctly and without interruption" at every match and that journalists at press conferences limit questions to football-related matters.
Iran’s participation in the tournament had faced uncertainty since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28.
Most recently, members of the Iranian football delegation, including Taj, were denied entry to Canada while traveling to Vancouver for FIFA’s General Assembly last week.
Canada’s immigration minister later confirmed that Taj’s visa had been revoked during his flight because of his alleged ties to the IRGC, which both Canada and the United States classify as a terrorist organization.
FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom later sent a letter to the Iranian federation expressing regret over the incident and inviting Iranian officials to Zurich on May 20 for talks related to World Cup preparations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that Iranian players would be welcomed at the tournament, though he warned that delegation members linked to the IRGC could still face entry restrictions.
Infantino has also stated that Iran’s matches in the tournament will proceed in the U.S. as originally planned.
Iran is expected to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament and will compete in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. The team opens its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
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