Iran lays out demands to participate in 2026 World Cup
Iran will "definitely" take part in the upcoming World Cup — but only if FIFA and the host countries meet its demands.
The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has said that its national team will "definitely" take part in the upcoming World Cup — but only if the joint hosts (the United States, Mexico and Canada) agree to its conditions. Iran's status has been up in the air since the U. S.
and Israel launched an armed conflict against the Middle East nation in late February. "We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account," the FFIRI said on its official website. "We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.
"No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit. " In addition to the statement on the website, FFIRI president Mehdi Taj told state TV on Friday that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the tournament. "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," Taj said.
Taj was denied entry to Canada for last month's FIFA Congress due to his previous service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of Iran's military. The IRGC is considered a terrorist organization in both the U. S.