{"id":54875,"date":"2026-05-15T13:17:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T20:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=54875"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:18:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T20:18:19","slug":"irans-participation-in-fifa-mens-world-cup-still-in-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2026\/05\/15\/irans-participation-in-fifa-mens-world-cup-still-in-question\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s participation in FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup still in question"},"content":{"rendered":"

seattletimes.com – When Gianni Infantino walked to the podium in Vancouver, B.C., late last month and declared that Iran would participate in the FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup<\/a>, it seemed the uncertainty was over. The president of FIFA said so.<\/p>\n

The Iranians may not completely agree.<\/p>\n

Less than a month out from the start of the 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup, another round of uncertainty about Iran\u2019s participation in the tournament emerged this week, this time centering around the team\u2019s concerns about visas and their request that Iran\u2019s culture, beliefs, flag and national anthem be respected throughout the tournament. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the latest chapter in the turmoil surrounding Iran\u2019s World Cup campaign<\/span> that started with the draw last December and has been a roller coaster of<\/span> one news cycle after another ever since \u2014 in part because of the U.S. and Israel\u2019s war against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The latest entry came after the head of the Iranian soccer federation, Mehdi Taj, said last weekend that the country would participate in the tournament \u2014 including the June 26 match against Egypt at Lumen Field<\/a> \u2014 only if a list of conditions were met by FIFA and by the United States.<\/p>\n

Chief among those conditions were securing visas for the Iranian players and staff to enter the U.S. without complications. The request included visas for players and staff who had previously served in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC is deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n

Taj and the Iranian delegation<\/a> were absent from the event where Infantino confirmed Iran\u2019s participation because Taj was denied entry into Canada because of his previous ties to the IRGC.<\/p>\n

During a send-off event for the Iranian team in Tehran<\/a> on Wednesday, Taj was quoted by state media as saying the issues with the visas had yet to be resolved. Taj said the players were expected to travel to the Turkish capital of Ankara for fingerprinting as part of the visa process.<\/p>\n