Iran’s football federation said on Saturday that the men’s national team will take part in the 2026 World Cup this summer, but insisted that joint hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada must meet a set of conditions amid the ongoing Middle East war.
The statement follows Canada’s refusal last month to grant entry to the federation’s chief ahead of the FIFA Congress due to alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada designated a terror group in 2024.
Iran’s participation in the tournament, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, has been uncertain since tensions escalated in the region in February following strikes by the United States and Israel.
“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,” the Iranian federation said on its official website.
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“We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.”
Iranian football federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj told state TV on Friday that the country has 10 conditions for its participation, focused on guarantees from the hosts.
The conditions include visa approvals, respect for the national team staff, flag and anthem, as well as security arrangements at airports, hotels, and travel routes to stadiums.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran’s players will be allowed into the tournament, but warned that entry could be denied to members of delegations linked to the IRGC.
“All players and technical staff, especially those who have served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should be granted visas without any problems,” said Iranian football chief Taj.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has maintained that Iran will play its World Cup matches in the United States as planned.
Iran, based in Tucson, Arizona, are drawn in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. They will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
“No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit,” the Iranian federation said on Saturday.
