The Iranian Football Federation on Saturday confirmed that the country’s national team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the federation has finalised its decision on participation and confirmed that visa-related procedures for the tournament have been completed.
The federation said Iran secured qualification through its match results and is continuing preparations and training ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Iran is set to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by Belgium on June 21, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Separately, Iranian news agency ISNA reported that the football federation has outlined 10 conditions tied to Iran’s participation in the competition.
Among the reported demands are guarantees that all Iranian players and technical staff will receive visas without complications and will not face questioning by US immigration authorities while travelling.
The federation also reportedly requested easier visa access for Iranian journalists and supporters attending the tournament, as well as enhanced security measures at airports, hotels, transport routes and stadiums in the United States.
Additional conditions allegedly include allowing only Iran’s official national flag inside stadiums, ensuring the Iranian national anthem is played without interruption during matches, and restricting press conference questions strictly to football-related matters.
