Iranian football chief rejects Trump or America as World Cup hosts and demands respect for the IRGC during the 2026 tournament.
Iran’s football authority has emphasized that the governing body FIFA is the official host of the 2026 World Cup, not Donald Trump or the United States. Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation (FFIRI), stated that the team’s participation should be judged solely on FIFA’s decisions. He also insisted that the U.S. must honor Iran’s national symbols, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), if the team travels for the tournament. Taj made these remarks while addressing concerns over Iran’s potential World Cup journey amid ongoing conflicts.
The IRGC, Iran’s elite military and political force, has faced travel restrictions in Canada and the U.S., where it is designated as a terrorist organization. Mehdi Taj, a former high-ranking IRGC official, had his visa revoked while flying to a FIFA Congress in Vancouver, prompting the Iranian delegation to turn back at the Canadian border. Canadian immigration officials confirmed the visa cancellation to parliament, citing Taj’s IRGC affiliation. This incident raised questions about Iran’s ability to participate comfortably in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom apologized to Iran for the visa issue and invited FFIRI to Zurich on May 20 for talks on World Cup preparations. Taj demanded formal assurances from FIFA that Iranian officials, including IRGC representatives, would not face disrespect or insults during the tournament. He warned that without such guarantees, incidents like the Canadian border turnback could recur. "We need a guarantee there, for our trip, that they have no right to insult the symbols of our system - especially the IRGC," Taj told state media. "This is something they must pay serious attention to."
Iran is set to play all three group-stage matches in the U.S., facing New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Taj reiterated Iran’s commitment to competing, stating, "We are going to the World Cup, for which we qualified, and our host is FIFA - not Mr Trump or America." The U.S. secretary of state previously announced that individuals linked to the IRGC would be denied entry. Taj stressed that disrespect toward Iran’s institutions could lead to further complications, including potential travel disruptions.
Relations between Iran, the U.S., and Israel remain strained following February air strikes. Iran was the only FIFA member federation absent from last week’s Congress in Vancouver, though FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup as scheduled. Iran had earlier requested a move of its matches to Mexico due to security concerns. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the tournament from June 11 to July 19.