"We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account. We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions. The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told state TV on Friday that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the global spectacle, seeking assurances over the country's treatment."
"The conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team's flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels and routes to the stadiums where they will play. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran's footballers would be welcome at the tournament."
"But he warned that the US may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the IRGC, which it also designates as a terrorist organisation. Iran's presence at the tournament has been shrouded in uncertainty since the US and Israel launched a war on the Middle East country in February."
"The call on Saturday comes after Canada refused entry to the federation's chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological arm of Iran's military, which it designated as a terrorist group in 2024."
Iran’s men’s national team participation in the 2026 World Cup is uncertain amid war involving the United States and Israel. The Iranian football federation states the team will definitely participate, but only if the joint hosts, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, agree to its conditions. The federation demands visas and respect for national team staff, protection of the team’s flag and national anthem during the tournament, and high security at airports, hotels, and stadium routes. Canada previously refused entry to the federation’s chief before FIFA Congress due to alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The United States says Iranian footballers would be welcome while warning it may bar delegation members with IRGC ties.
#iran-national-football-team #2026-fifa-world-cup #visa-and-security-requirements #irgc #us-canada-relations
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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