Iran confirms 2026 World Cup participation after securing visas

Tournament participation

Iran's Football Federation announced Saturday that the national team will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, confirming that visa procedures for the tournament have been finalized according to state media reports. The federation stated that the team secured qualification through its results and continues preparations ahead of the competition scheduled from June 11 to July 19.

Group stage schedule

Iran is due to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26 to conclude the group stage fixtures.

Participation conditions

Iran's ISNA news agency reported that the football federation outlined 10 specific conditions for its participation, including guarantees that all players and technical staff would receive visas without complications and would not face questioning by US immigration authorities during travel. The federation also requested visa facilitation for Iranian journalists and supporters alongside increased US security measures around airports, hotels and stadiums.

Protocol demands

Other reported demands included restrictions allowing only Iran's official national flag inside venues and guarantees that the national anthem would be played without interruption during matches. The federation also stipulated that questions at press conferences be limited strictly to football matters, according to the agency.