Iran has confirmed its intention to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite growing political tensions surrounding the tournament.
The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has formally asked FIFA and the host nations, United States, Canada and Mexico, to provide several guarantees before the competition begins on June 11.
In a statement reported by BBC Sport, the federation stressed that Iran would take part in the World Cup “without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions,” while urging the host countries to address the team’s concerns.
The latest development follows an incident involving FFIRI president Mehdi Taj, who was denied entry into Canada ahead of last month’s FIFA Congress. Canadian authorities reportedly pointed to Taj’s previous connections with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been designated as a terrorist organisation in both Canada and the United States.
After the incident, Taj disclosed that Iran had submitted 10 conditions to FIFA concerning the country’s participation in the World Cup.
Among the federation’s key requests are guarantees that all Iranian players, coaches and officials will be granted visas to enter the host countries, including individuals who previously completed military service linked to the IRGC.
Iran is also seeking assurances over the treatment of its national team during the tournament, including respect for the country’s flag and national anthem, as well as enhanced security arrangements at airports, hotels and stadiums.
While some of the requests may fall under FIFA’s authority, others are tied directly to immigration and security policies controlled by the host governments.
Despite the ongoing political tensions, Iran has reiterated its commitment to competing in the tournament this summer.
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