Iranian Federation Reveals Strict Conditions Before Participating in 2026 World Cup

The Iranian Football Federation officially announced the participation of the Iranian national team in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while also confirming that the participation will be subject to a number of conditions and specific demands for the Iranian delegation.

The union's statement read:

"We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the host countries must take our concerns into account, and we will compete in the tournament without abandoning our beliefs, culture, and principles."

The Iranian federation revealed a list of ten conditions it deemed necessary to ensure its team's participation in the tournament. The most prominent of these was the assurance of facilitating visa acquisition for all delegation members, including players who served in the Revolutionary Guard, as well as ensuring respect for the delegation members within the United States.

The demands also included the necessity of respecting the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, correctly playing the national anthem before matches, and providing the highest levels of security at airports, hotels, and means of transportation.

The conditions also included allowing only officially recognized flags to be raised inside the stadiums, prohibiting any political criticism or insults towards the team or its symbols, as well as banning insults directed at Iranian military personnel.

The federation also demanded that press questions be limited to sports-related aspects only, with official recognition of state symbols during the tournament period.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that if these conditions are not met, the Iranian team may consider withdrawing from the tournament even during its course.