FIFA President Gianni Infantino has unequivocally declared that Iran will take part in the 2026 World Cup, despite the nation’s absence from the recent congress held in Vancouver. While speaking at the event, Infantino stressed the importance of unity, stating that Iran’s inclusion is a step toward bringing people together.
Earlier in the week, a three-member delegation from the Iranian Football Federation traveled to Toronto, but one individual was denied entry into Canada, and the remaining two opted out of attending the congress in what appeared to be a protest. Reports from Iranian media indicated that Mehdi Taj, the head of the federation, was refused entry at Toronto Pearson Airport, even though he had been granted authorization to travel. FIFA sources described the incident as a regrettable circumstance, noting that while Iran was invited, the final decision on entry rested with Canadian authorities.
During the roll-call of the 210 FIFA members present, Secretary General Mattias Grafström made no mention of Iran’s absence. The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation has lingered since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on the Islamic Republic in February. Nevertheless, Infantino confirmed that Iran will fulfill their group stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.
Infantino stated, “Allow me to make it clear from the outset that Iran will indeed compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And they will certainly play in the United States. The reason is simple: we must come together and unite people. There are already enough divisions in the world; if no one works to bridge them, what will become of our society? We need to act, and this is our opportunity.”
Iran’s World Cup campaign is scheduled to begin on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles. If both Iran and the United States finish second in their respective groups, they could meet in the round of 32, marking a rematch of their 2022 group stage encounter in Qatar. Iran is also slated to play matches in Seattle.
Despite Infantino’s confidence, concerns persist regarding immigration issues for the Iranian delegation this summer. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that while Iranian players would be welcome, certain federation officials might encounter difficulties. “The issue with Iran revolves around specific individuals they wish to bring, some of whom have ties to the IRGC,” Rubio commented.
Mehdi Taj, a former commander in the IRGC, has been designated as a terrorist entity by Canada since 2024. Although the Canadian government had granted Taj a temporary resident permit to attend the congress, it appears the permit has been rescinded. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed, “My understanding is that the permission has been revoked.”
In a separate segment of his address, Infantino defended FIFA’s controversial ticket sales strategy amid widespread criticism over pricing. He revealed that the organization had received 500 million ticket requests, with 90% of available inventory sold. “We have satisfied 100% of the tickets released, which accounts for 90% of the global supply. While there are premium-priced tickets, affordable options are also available. All proceeds are reinvested into the sport,” Infantino said. He further noted that FIFA’s projected revenue for the 2023-26 cycle has increased to $14 billion (£10.3 billion), a 20% rise from the previous cycle.