From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Iran soccer chief says he will seek assurances from FIFA president over World Cup participation
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Iranian soccer chief Mehdi Taj says he will have a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the next three or four days at which he will seek assurances that his country will be respected at the World Cup in the United States.
Canada, which is co-hosting the June 11 to July 19 World Cup with the US and Mexico, said it refused entry to Taj last week because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Taj says Iran will not take part in the tournament if FIFA could not guarantee respect for the country’s institutions in the US, where the team will be based and play all three of their group matches.
“We will tell [FIFA] what our expectations are. If they can address them, we will definitely participate,” the FFIRI president tells state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran. “But if there is no guarantee that they will be addressed, then no one has the right to insult us or the pillars of our system.
“And if they continue on the path of disrespect, and even ask our players those kinds of questions, we may make a different decision,” he adds.
Both the US and Canada classify the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” and have made it clear they will not admit people with links to the elite military force.
The Times of Israel Community.