FIFA discusses Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom met with the President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, in Istanbul to discuss Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup. Although Iran is scheduled to play its group matches in the United States, concerns have emerged following February's geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Further complications arose after Canada denied entry to Mehdi Taj for a FIFA conference in Vancouver due to his alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Canada. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that FIFA has a duty to ensure that all national team delegations can enter host countries. While Iran reportedly requested that its matches be relocated to Mexico, no such move has been confirmed. Grafstrom described the meeting as constructive and expressed optimism about Iran's participation, though he avoided commenting on specific visa issues for players. FIFA continues to work closely with the Iranian federation to manage organizational matters ahead of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.