FIFA will provide solutions to Iran’s respective concerns before the match in the United States, Iran’s soccer chief said.
Published May 17, 2026
FIFA Secretary-General Matthias Grafström said he had held constructive and positive talks with Iran’s head of football, Mehdi Taj, and expressed confidence in the country’s participation in the World Cup.
“We had a great meeting and a constructive meeting with the Iranian Football Association,” Grafström told Reuters on Saturday. “We are working closely together and very much look forward to welcoming them at the FIFA World Cup.”
Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group games in the United States, but the team’s participation in the June 11-July 19 tournament has been in jeopardy since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, sparking a regional conflict.
Further questions have arisen after Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) president Taj was denied entry to Canada to attend the FIFA General Assembly in Vancouver this month.
The FFIRI delegation, led by Taj, was turned away after arriving at Toronto’s main airport due to treatment by Canadian immigration authorities and was absent from a pre-World Cup FIFA meeting in Vancouver. They alleged “unacceptable conduct by immigration officers” despite having valid visas.
In 2024, Canada designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization,” and a Canadian government statement indicated that Mr. Taj was denied entry due to his alleged ties to the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The incident raised concerns that there would be problems with some of the Iranian delegation entering the United States.
Grafström did not provide details on the Iranian players’ visa status, but said the two countries had the opportunity to discuss operational issues in Turkiye in Istanbul and had a positive exchange of views.
Taj said FFIRI had had good talks with Grafström and other FIFA officials.
“I am glad that they listened to Iran’s points, listened to all 10 points that we raised and presented their respective solutions. Hopefully, our national team will be able to participate in the World Cup without any problems and achieve very good results there,” he said.
Asked whether FIFA had secured guarantees regarding entry and visa arrangements for Iranian players, Grafström did not provide details.
“We have discussed all the relevant matters, but I don’t think this is the place to discuss the details,” he said. “Overall it was a very positive meeting and we look forward to continuing the dialogue.”
Iran had asked for the World Cup matches to be moved to Mexico, where it will be co-hosted with the United States and Canada, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted all matches should be played at their originally scheduled venues.
The Iranian squad will leave Tehran on Monday for a training camp in Turkiye before moving to the US military base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June.
Iran is scheduled to begin World Cup activities against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also scheduled to play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
