Tehran: Iran has submitted a list of ten demands before confirming its participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has officially announced its commitment to compete in the event, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, this participation comes with conditions intended to address concerns stemming from ongoing geopolitical tensions.
According to Thai News Agency, the FFIRI has laid out specific requirements to FIFA and the host nations to ensure the safety and dignity of the Iranian team. These demands follow an incident where FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada for a recent FIFA Congress, due to his alleged connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The federation's demands encompass several key areas: visa assurance for all delegation members, including players with IRGC ties like Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi; comprehensive security measures across all venues and travel routes; and respect for Iranian national symbols, including the flag and anthem. Additionally, the FFIRI insists on restricting stadium displays to official flags only and limiting media inquiries to sports-related topics, excluding political discussions.
Despite earlier speculation regarding a potential withdrawal or relocation of matches to Mexico, reports indicate that Iran remains committed to playing its scheduled matches in the United States. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran's games will proceed as planned, underscoring the federation's priority of maintaining cultural integrity over political disputes.
Iran is set to compete in Group G, with matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 16th and 22nd, respectively, and a final group stage match against Egypt in Seattle on June 27th.