FIFA and Iran hold 2026 World Cup talks: ‘Positive, constructive’ | OneFootball

FIFA has expressed confidence in Iran’s national team taking part in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held from June 11 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, after meeting with members of the Asian country’s federation in Istanbul.

“We had an excellent meeting, a constructive meeting with the Football Federation of Iran. I think we are working in close collaboration and are very much looking forward to welcoming them to the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said the secretary general of world football’s governing body, Mattias Grafström, in a statement on its website.

“I am very pleased that we were able to have such a positive exchange; both the Football Federation of Iran and FIFA are very satisfied with the meeting and excited to welcome Team Melli to the United States, Canada, and Mexico,” Grafström said.

For his part, the president of the Football Federation of Iran, Mehdi Taj, said he was “satisfied” after meeting on Saturday in Istanbul with FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström and receiving assurances that his national team will be able to take part in the 2026 World Cup without setbacks.

Last Sunday, the president of the Iranian federation made Team Melli’s participation conditional on the acceptance of ten points, in which they demanded guarantees regarding security, travel, and respect for the symbols of the Islamic republic.

“We had a positive and constructive meeting with FIFA. We discussed our concerns and expressed our joint commitment to ensure the National Team’s smooth participation in the World Cup,” Mehdi Taj said, according to FIFA.

The Iranian national team is expected to travel to Turkey in the coming days for a training camp before heading to the United States, where it will play its group-stage matches from June 16 against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Despite the armed conflict with the United States, Iran’s participation in the World Cup remains in place, although access for delegations and team personnel continues to be subject to the host countries’ immigration policies.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that there will be no problem authorizing the players’ entry, but that technical staff from the federation whom Washington says have ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard will not be allowed into the country.

Last Sunday, the Iranian federation stated that it will take part in the World Cup if ten conditions are respected, including guarantees that they will obtain visas, security assurances, and that their flag and anthem will be respected in the face of possible demonstrations by dissidents living in the United States.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.