FIFA World Cup 2026 | Iran FA chief to meet Infantino seeking assurances

Iran Football Federation Mehdi Taj said he will have a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the next three or four days at which he would seek assurances that ⁠his country will be respected at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States.

Canada, which is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup with the US and Mexico, said it refused entry ‌to Taj last week because of his ​links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Taj had earlier said that Iran would not take part in the World Cup if FIFA could not guarantee respect for the country's institutions in the US, where the team will be based and play all three of their group matches.

"We'll tell (FIFA) what our expectations are. If they can address them, we'll definitely participate," the FFIRI president was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran.

"But if there's no guarantee that they'll be addressed, then no one has the right to insult us or the pillars of our system.

"And if they continue on the path of disrespect, and even ask our players those kinds of questions, we ⁠may make a ‌different decision."

Both the US and Canada classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" and have made it clear they will not admit people with links to the elite military force.

Taj, ‌who served as a high-ranking official with the IRGC before moving into football administration, received the backing of Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson ⁠Esmail Baghaei for his stance.

"Look, our national football team isn't 'travelling' to the United States, rather we're going there to take part in the ‌FIFA World Cup," said Baghaei in Tehran.

"Therefore, it's FIFA's responsibility to provide ‌all the necessary facilities and conditions.

"Host governments also have a very clear obligation under FIFA ‌regulations to provide the necessary arrangements and issue the required visas without taking political considerations or motives ‌into account.

"We hope that FIFA, if only for the sake of preserving its own credibility, will certainly take the necessary measures."

Taj also said a wider 30-man squad for the tournament would be selected this week before being cut to the final 26 players after a training camp in Turkey.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei told state media that the squad planned to arrive in the US 14 days before the start of the tournament after the two-week camp.

Ghalenoei said he would like the squad to have two or three warm-up matches, but attempts to set up friendly internationals had proved tricky with teams pulling out at ​the last minute.

The squad will therefore remain in Tehran for another week before heading to Turkey (where ​Iran played friendlies against Costa Rica and ​Nigeria in late March) on May 16.

Team Melli are scheduled to get their campaign underway against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. ​The team's US base will be at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizon.

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in question since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic ⁠in late February, ⁠triggering the war in the region.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, the first edition of the global showpiece to ⁠feature 48 teams - will be co-hosted by Canada, alongside the United States and Mexico, from June 11 ⁠to July 19.