The FFIRI (Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran) stated this Saturday (9) that its team will participate in the World Cup, but demanded that the organizing countries (United States, Mexico and Canada) accept its conditions, in a context of war in the Middle East.
This comes after Canadian immigration authorities made it difficult for the president of Iranian football to enter their territory last month, before the FIFA (International Football Federation) Congress, due to his links with the CGRI (Guardian Corps of the Islamic Revolution).
The ideological arm of the Iranian Armed Forces, also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the CRGRI has been classified as a terrorist group by the United States, Canada and other countries.
Iran’s presence in the tournament, which will be played from June 11 to July 19, has been in doubt since the start of the war in the Middle East in February, following attacks by the United States and Israel.
“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take into account our concerns,” the Iranian federation said on its website. “We will participate in the tournament, but without any retreat in relation to our beliefs, culture and convictions.”
The president of the federation, Mehdi Taj, declared on Friday (8) on state television that Tehran has ten conditions to attend the tournament, seeking guarantees about the treatment that the delegation will receive.
The conditions include the granting of visas and respect for the national team, the team’s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, in addition to the requirement for high security at airports, hotels and routes to the stadiums.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that Iranian players would be welcome, but warned that members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the CGRI could be denied entry.
“All players and coaching staff, especially those who did their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should receive visas without any problem,” Taj insisted.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran will play its World Cup games in the United States as scheduled.
Iran, which plans to establish its base during the World Cup in Tucson, Arizona, will open its participation in the World Cup against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15th and will then face Belgium (on June 21st, also in Los Angeles) and Egypt (on June 27th, in Seattle).
“No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a World Cup for which it qualified on merit,” the Iranian federation declared on Saturday.
