Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, has maintained that global football authorities, not the United States, hold ultimate control over the 2026 World Cup, as concerns grow over Iran’s involvement amid political tensions.
Speaking on Wednesday, as reported by BBC Sport, Taj addressed issues surrounding travel limitations, diplomatic strains, and the treatment of Iranian officials ahead of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Our host is FIFA, not Mr Trump or America,” Taj said, stressing that Iran qualified for the tournament and expects to compete under FIFA’s supervision.
His remarks follow an incident in which Iranian
football officials were denied entry to Canada for a FIFA Congress, with authorities citing alleged connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated as a terrorist group in several countries.
Taj, who has previously acknowledged links to the IRGC, said Iran is seeking assurances that its representatives and national institutions will be treated with respect during the competition.
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“If they guarantee not to insult our military institutions and the IRGC, we’ll go,” he said, referring to arrangements for the World Cup travel.
FIFA has already expressed regret over the visa issue involving Iranian officials and has invited the federation for discussions in Zurich as preparations for the tournament continue.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that Iran remains part of the competition schedule and is expected to play as planned, despite the political challenges.
The situation reflects broader tensions between Tehran and Washington, with U.S. authorities maintaining that individuals linked to the IRGC will not be granted entry into the country.
Iran, however, has insisted that sports should remain separate from politics, emphasizing that diplomatic disagreements should not interfere with its World Cup participation.
“We are going to the World Cup because we qualified,” Taj has previously said, adding that Iran would boycott the United States politically but not the tournament itself.
As the event approaches, the dispute underscores the growing overlap between international politics and global sporting competitions.