The Iran Football Federation will meet with FIFA to discuss its participation in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing an anonymous source, that FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to a meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, before the 20th of this month.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, who was recently denied entry to Canada when he tried to attend the FIFA Congress held ahead of the World Cup, also said in a media interview after returning home, "We are scheduled to meet with FIFA soon, and there are many issues to discuss."
Earlier, the Iranian delegation, including President Taj, attempted to attend the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, Canada, on the 30th of last month but turned back after Canadian authorities raised issues over Taj's past service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As a result, Iran was the only one among FIFA's 211 member nations that failed to attend the congress.
Regarding the situation at the time, Taj explained, "During the immigration process, I was asked whether I belonged to the IRGC." He added, "After about two hours of waiting, entry was approved, but after internal discussions, we chose to return home."
Iran has been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand for the 2026 World Cup in North America, with all of its group-stage matches scheduled to be held in the United States. However, controversy over Iran's participation has continued in the wake of the recent war involving the United States and Israel.
The Iran Football Federation once hinted at the possibility of not participating, but later reversed its position, maintaining its intention to take part in the tournament while requesting that group-stage matches be moved from the United States to Mexico. FIFA, however, did not accept the request.
Taj drew a line on the matter, saying, "We are not rejecting the World Cup itself, but only boycotting matches held in the United States," reaffirming his intention to compete.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also stressed at the congress, "Iran will of course participate in the World Cup and play its matches in the United States." U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously taken a negative view of Iran's participation citing safety concerns, also showed a more moderate stance, saying, "If President Infantino said so, there is no problem."
