FIFA holds “positive” talks with Iran’s football officials over the World Cup | World Cup 2026 news

FIFA offers solutions to any problems Iran faces before the US games, an Iranian football official said.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom says he had an encouraging and interesting meeting with Iran’s head of football, Mehdi ⁠Taj, expressing his confidence in the country’s participation in the World Cup.

“We had a very good meeting and a constructive meeting with the Iranian football federation,” Grafstrom told Reuters reporters on Saturday. “We are working together and we look forward to welcoming them to the FIFA World Cup.”

Iran plans to play all three of their group games in the United States, but the team’s participation in the tournament from June 11 to July 19 has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, sparking a regional conflict.

More questions have arisen after the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Taj was denied entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver this month.

FFIRI delegation led by Taj they returned after arriving at Toronto’s main airport, citing their support for Canadian immigration, and missed the FIFA meeting before the World Cup in Vancouver. They said “unacceptable behavior by immigration officials” despite having valid visas.

In 2024, Canada listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist group”, and a Canadian government statement indicated that Taj was denied entry because of his ties to the IRGC.

The incident caused it fear that there may be an issue to some of the Iranian delegations entering the US.

Grafstrom declined to provide details on the visa process for the Iranian players but said the two sides had an opportunity in Istanbul, Turkey, to discuss other developments and exchange ideas.

Taj said FFIRI had a good meeting with Grafstrom and other FIFA officials.

“I am happy that they have listened to the principles of Iran, all 10 principles that we raised, and provided ways to solve each problem.

Asked if FIFA had confirmed entry and visas for Iranian players, Grafstrom declined to comment.

“We have discussed all the important issues, but I think it is not the place to discuss the details,” he said. “All in all, a very good meeting and we look forward to further discussions.”

Iran asked for their World Cup matches to be moved to Mexico, which is hosting the tournament with the US and Canada, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted that all matches would be played at the pre-arranged venues.

The Iranian team will leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkiye on Monday before moving to their US venue at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June.

Iran prepare their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They also have to play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.