Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj stated that FIFA, rather than the United States government, remains the host for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Taj called for the American authorities to respect the Iranian delegation if the national team travels to the United States for the tournament. These comments followed concerns regarding diplomatic relations and entry requirements for the international sporting event.
Iran qualified for the finals, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host. Taj emphasised that footballing matters should remain separate from political tensions between Tehran and Washington. According to Reuters, he noted that the host is FIFA and not Mr Trump. The federation president's remarks coincide with the final preparations for the 48-team competition.
The tournament begins in June across 16 host cities in North America. FIFA regulations require host nations to facilitate entry for all qualifying teams and officials. According to The Guardian, Iran previously competed in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they faced the United States in the group stages.
