Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has reiterated his belief that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup this summer, despite the Iranian Football Federation failing to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. A three-man delegation representing the Iranian federation traveled to Toronto on Tuesday, but one of its members was denied entry into Canada, prompting the other two to boycott the congress in an apparent protest.
Iranian Delegation Denied Entry
Iranian media reported earlier this week that Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation (IFF), was turned away at Toronto's Pearson Airport despite receiving permission to travel. FIFA sources described the situation as "regrettable" but emphasized that Iran had been invited to the congress and that Canadian authorities hold responsibility for entry decisions. During a roll call of the 210 FIFA members present, Secretary General Mattias Grafström did not mention Iran's absence.
Uncertainty Over Iran's Participation
Iran's participation has been uncertain since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the Islamic Republic in February. However, Infantino insisted that Iran will fulfill its group-stage fixtures against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. "Let me start by confirming straight away, for those who might want to say or write otherwise, that of course Iran will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino said. "And of course, Iran will play in the United States. The reason is simple: we must unite and bring people together. There are enough problems and divisions in the world. If no one tries to unite, what will become of our world? We have this opportunity."
Group Stage and Potential Match with USA
Iran will begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21, and conclude Group G against Egypt in Seattle. If Iran and the USA finish second in their respective groups, they could meet in the round of 32 in Dallas, having faced each other in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Concerns Over Immigration Issues
Despite Infantino's confidence, concerns remain about potential immigration problems for Iran this summer. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last week that Iranian players are welcome but indicated that some federation members may face difficulties. "The problem with Iran would be some of the other people they want to bring, some of whom have ties to the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]," Rubio said. Mehdi Taj, a former IRGC commander, was issued a temporary resident permit by Canada, which has listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity since 2024, but the permit appears to have been revoked. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed, "My understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission."
Infantino Defends Ticket Sales and Announces Re-election Bid
In his address, Infantino defended FIFA's controversial ticket sales process amid widespread complaints about pricing. He revealed that FIFA has received 500 million ticket requests, with 90% of inventory already sold. "We have had 500 million requests," Infantino said. "In the last two World Cups, we had 50 million total. We have sold 100% of the tickets made available, which is 90% of global inventory. Some tickets are expensive, but others are less so. All revenue goes back into the game."
Infantino also announced that FIFA's projected revenue for the 2023-26 cycle, concluding with this summer's World Cup, has increased to $14 billion (£10.3 billion), a 20% growth over the previous cycle. He formally confirmed his intention to seek re-election for a third full term at next year's congress in Rabat, Morocco. The Swiss-Italian lawyer, first elected as a reform candidate in 2016, may remain in office for 15 years after FIFA's statutes were amended to count only full terms toward the three-term limit. "I want to confirm I will be a candidate for the FIFA presidency next year," Infantino said in closing. "I wanted you to be the first to know. Thank you for your encouragement and support."
