FIFA meeting could decide Iran's World Cup fate with visas still a major issue

Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup back in March 2025 -Credit:Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

"Tomorrow or the day after, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA," Taj told state news agency IRNA. "They must give us guarantees.

"We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas. No visas have been issued yet."

It has been a turbulent road to the World Cup for Iran. Trump called for the nation to be excluded from the tournament, and Iran fired back with their own demand to have the U.S. Men's National Team removed from the 2026 competition.

Iran is scheduled to play all three group stage matches on U.S. soil, opening against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium again at SoFi Stadium on June 21, and wrapping up Group G action against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Ultimately, the conflict has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Iran's participation in the World Cup. Yet at FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver last month, Gianni Infantino declared: "Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America."

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Iran was notably the only nation absent from the congress after a delegation of Iranian FA (FFIRI) officials — including Taj — were refused entry into Canada. The country's immigration minister revealed that Taj's visa was cancelled while he was mid-flight due to his connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The situation has intensified questions over whether Iran is welcome to compete in either the United States or Canada. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that her country would have no issue hosting Iran's games should FIFA give the green light.

The FFIRI recently submitted a list of 10 conditions to FIFA regarding their participation at the World Cup, among them a demand that players, coaches, and officials who have completed military service with the IRGC be granted visas.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Iranian players will be welcomed at the tournament, though individuals with ties to the IRGC could face restrictions on entry.

Iran is tentatively on course to appear in their fourth consecutive World Cup, having cruised through Asian qualifying. The team has yet to advance beyond the group stage of the tournament.