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The president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, has outlined ten conditions for participating in the 2026 World Cup and sought assurances over the country’s treatment in the tournament.
Taj spoke after the FFIRI said on Saturday that Iran would take part in the men’s football tournament this summer despite the ongoing Middle East War, but demanded that the joint hosts, the United States, Mexico and Canada, agree to its conditions.
“If we do not participate in the World Cup, we will lose a major diplomatic asset,” Taj said in an interview broadcast late Saturday on state television.
Uncertainty has surrounded Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup following strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against the Middle Eastern country.
The FFIRI confirmed on its official website that Iran would participate in the tournament on Saturday.
The Guardian Nigeria News.
“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,” it wrote.
“We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.”
Taj also set 10 conditions for participating in the World Cup.
According to the AFP, the conditions include visas being granted, respect for the national team staff, the team’s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for heightened security at airports, hotels and along routes to the stadiums where they will play.
The world football governing body, FIFA, has insisted for weeks that Iran will participate in the tournament.
Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, 2026.
