The Iranian football federation said on Saturday that the men's national team will take part in the 2026 World Cup but demanded that the United States, Mexico and Canada agree to its conditions for participation. The tournament begins in June.

"We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account," the federation said on its official website. "We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions." The federation added: "No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit."

Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj told state television that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the tournament. The conditions include the granting of visas, respect for the national team staff, the team's flag and national anthem during the tournament, and high security at airports, hotels and routes to the stadiums. "All players and technical staff, especially those who have served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should be granted visas without any problems," Taj said.

Canada refused entry to the federation's chief before the FIFA Congress last month because of his alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Canada designated the corps as a terrorist group in 2024.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that Iran's footballers would be welcome at the tournament, but warned that the United States may bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play its World Cup games in the U.S. as scheduled. Iran will be based in Tucson, Arizona during the tournament.

Iran will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G, opening its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, 2026. The 2026 World Cup will take place between June 11 and July 19, 2026.