Iran’s football authorities say uncertainty still surrounds their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, as no visas have yet been issued for the national team.
The comments were made by Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj, who said the team is still waiting for confirmation from FIFA and relevant authorities.
Speaking through state media, Taj said officials are pressing for clarity ahead of the tournament.
“We will have a decisive meeting with FIFA. They must give us guarantees because the visa issue has still not been resolved,” he said.
He added that the federation has not received any confirmation on visa approvals for players and staff.
According to him, arrangements were being made for players to travel to Ankara for fingerprinting as part of the visa process, though there are efforts to move the procedure to Antalya to reduce travel complications.
Iran has been at war with the United States and Israel since late February, although a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April. That backdrop has added political tension to what is already a sensitive sporting situation.
Despite the uncertainty, Iran has confirmed preparations are continuing for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Team Melli is expected to be based in Tucson, Arizona during the competition. They will open their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt.
Iranian officials say they are still pushing for guarantees that their players will be able to enter the United States smoothly before final squad travel plans are confirmed.
