Iran’s football chief, Mehdi Taj, has publicly demanded guarantees for the national team’s travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, citing political tensions and previous visa complications related to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Speaking to state broadcaster the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Tuesday, Taj emphasized FIFA’s role as the ultimate host of the tournament. “We are going to the World Cup, for which we qualified, and our host is Fifa – not Mr Trump or America,” Taj stated, highlighting the distinction between the sporting body and the host nation’s government.

Visa row casts shadow over 2026 World Cup

The demand for assurances stems from a recent incident where an Iranian FA (FFIRI) delegation, including Taj, was turned back from the Canadian border before last week’s FIFA Congress in Vancouver. According to BBC Sport, Canada’s immigration minister later confirmed that Mehdi Taj’s visa had been cancelled while he was in the air due to his links to the IRGC, which is designated as a terrorist organization in both Canada and the US. The FFIRI delegation reportedly felt they received disrespectful treatment by immigration officials.

Taj, who previously served as a high-ranking IRGC official, stressed the need for respect for Iranian institutions. “We need a guarantee there, for our trip, that they have no right to insult the symbols of our system – especially the IRGC,” he told IRIB, adding that such a guarantee would prevent a repeat of the Canadian incident.

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The political backdrop includes recent air strikes by the US and Israel on Iran in February, further escalating regional tensions. Last week, US secretary of state Marco Rubio affirmed that no one with ties to the IRGC would be admitted to the country, underscoring the challenges Iran faces in securing entry for its delegation.

FIFA attempts to mediate amid political tensions

The visa issues meant Iran was the only FIFA federation among 211 member countries not represented at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Following the incident, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom wrote to express regret for the “inconvenience and disappointment.” The FFIRI has since been invited to Zurich for a meeting on May 20 to discuss their World Cup preparations.

Despite the diplomatic hurdles, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has maintained that Iran will participate in the tournament as scheduled. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, is set to run from June 11 to July 19. Iran is currently scheduled to play two group stage matches in Los Angeles – against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 – followed by a game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. In March, Iran had requested for its matches to be moved to Mexico, a request that has not been granted.

Sources: www.bbc.com

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