The main objective was to discuss operational and logistical guarantees for the presence of the Iranian delegation on American soil during the World Cup
Amid the escalation of the diplomatic crisis between the United States and Iran, the FIFA held a meeting considered strategic with representatives of Iranian football to align details of the country’s national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that will have games in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The meeting took place in Istanbul, Turkey, where the Iranian team is preparing, and brought together leaders from FIFA, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) and the Turkish Federation.
The main objective was to discuss operational and logistical guarantees for the presence of the Iranian delegation on American soil during the World Cup.
Representing FIFA, the entity’s general secretary, Mattias Grafstrom, stated that the organization works to ensure that Iran’s experience in North America is “as flawless, productive and enjoyable as possible.”
According to him, the entity maintains direct contact with the Iranians to ensure that the team’s entire operation runs smoothly. “We are working very closely and look forward to welcoming you to the World Cup,” said Grafstrom during the meeting.
The president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, and the president of the Turkish Football Federation, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, also participated.
The meeting gained political weight because it takes place precisely at one of the most tense moments in relations between Washington and Tehran in recent years. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has increased his tone against Iran, made public threats and started discussing new American military attacks in the region.
The climate of international tension generated concern behind the scenes at FIFA, especially since all of the Iranian team’s first phase games will be played in the United States.
Iran debuts against New Zealand in Los Angeles. Then, they will also face Belgium in Los Angeles and end the group stage against Egypt, in Seattle. The base of the Iranian delegation during the tournament will be in the city of Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to sporting issues, there is concern about logistics, security, visa issuance, travel and even possible political demonstrations during the games.
The Iranian Federation adopted a diplomatic but firm tone when commenting on the meeting. In a statement, FFIRI stated that it entered the negotiations “not from a position of demand, but rather one of logic and dignity”.
The entity also highlighted that Iranian football demonstrated a willingness to dialogue, “but without backing down”.
we racks, International analysts believe that FIFA is trying to prevent the political environment from contaminating the tournament. The entity knows that any problem involving the Iranian delegation could generate global repercussions during the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history, with 48 participating teams and games spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 6 million fans are expected to travel across the three countries during the tournament.
Iran’s participation also draws attention because the country has consolidated itself as one of the main forces in Asian football in recent decades. This will be Iran’s fourth consecutive World Cup appearance – and one of the most politically sensitive in the competition’s recent history.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
