Infantino Confirms Iran's Participation in 2026 World Cup, Tehran Sets Security Conditions

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This official announcement was made during the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, Canada, ending months of speculation and uncertainty surrounding Iran's presence in the upcoming global tournament.

Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, outlined specific conditions for this participation. These included the absence of any political criticism targeting the team, along with comprehensive security guarantees for players and all delegation members. Taj also emphasized the importance of official recognition of the symbols of the Islamic Republic as part of the necessary commitments to ensure his country's normal involvement in the competitions to be held in North America.

Mehdi Taj expressed reservations regarding the international football organization. The Iranian Football Federation president stated that FIFA is "heavily influenced by international politics," describing it as having become "weak" recently. These remarks come amid a tense geopolitical context and exceptional circumstances in the region, prompting the local federation to insist on protecting its sports delegation from any external pressures it might face during the tournament.