Iran has insisted that football’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, remains the sole authority over the 2026 World Cup, rejecting any suggestion that the United States has overriding control over the tournament.
The position was restated by the president of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, amid growing political tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in the competition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking on Wednesday, Taj emphasized that Iran qualified for the tournament through sporting merit and expects full participation under FIFA’s supervision.
“Our host is FIFA, not Mr Trump or America,” he said, stressing that political disputes should not interfere with football governance.
The comments come against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington, with concerns over visa restrictions and the treatment of Iranian officials ahead of the tournament.
Iranian football authorities have raised concerns after some officials were reportedly denied access to a FIFA Congress in Canada, with restrictions linked to alleged ties involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an organisation designated as terrorist by several countries.
Taj, who has acknowledged past involvement with the IRGC, said Iran is seeking firm guarantees that its delegation will not face disrespect or discrimination during the tournament.
“If they guarantee not to insult our military institutions and the IRGC, we’ll go,” he said.
The dispute has drawn attention from global football authorities, with FIFA expressing regret over the visa-related incident and inviting Iranian officials to talks in Zurich as part of ongoing preparations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran remains scheduled to participate in the 2026 World Cup and will play its matches as planned, despite the political tensions surrounding its involvement.
Iran has maintained that football must remain separate from politics and insists its qualification should not be affected by diplomatic disagreements.