Published On 10/5/2026
The head of the Iranian Football Federation considered that Iran’s absence from the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, would deprive the country of an “important diplomatic gain.”
The fate of Iran’s participation in the tournament, scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19, has remained unclear since the outbreak of war in late February with the United States and Israel launching strikes on the Islamic Republic.
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Diplomatic loss
Mehdi Taj said in an interview broadcast Saturday evening on state television: “If we do not participate in the World Cup, we will lose an important diplomatic gain.”
He had indicated the previous day that Tehran had set 10 conditions for its participation in the tournament, demanding guarantees regarding the treatment that the Iranian national team would receive in the World Cup.
These conditions include, in particular, granting entry visas and respecting the crew, the Iranian flag and the national anthem, as well as providing a high level of security at airports, hotels and on the roads leading to the stadiums in which the Iranian national team will play.
Taj said on Saturday: “The team will travel to Türkiye at the end of the week, and will stay there for between 10 and 15 days. Then we will look for a private flight to go to the United States.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will play its World Cup matches in the United States according to the plans originally drawn up.
Iran – whose national team is based in Tucson, Arizona, in the tournament – will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group Seven.
