FIFA needs to provide safety guarantees for Iran at 2026 FIFA World Cup — minister

Lead

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that FIFA must ensure safe conditions for the Iranian national team at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, as reported by TASS. The statement comes after a period of uncertainty over Iran's participation, which was resolved following a meeting between Iranian football officials and FIFA in Turkey.

Coverage Comparison

All reports on this story come from TASS, the Russian state news agency, and focus on the diplomatic and logistical arrangements enabling Iran's participation. The coverage highlights three key developments: FIFA's commitment to safety guarantees, the relocation of Iran's training base from the United States to Mexico, and the issuance of entry visas for the team.

Key Claims

• FIFA's role in ensuring safety: According to Baghaei, as quoted by Iran's state broadcaster and reported by TASS, "FIFA must ensure suitable conditions for Iran's unhindered participation in the World Cup." This follows a May 17 meeting in Turkey between FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and representatives of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), which gave FIFA confidence that Iran would participate.

• Meeting in Turkey: TASS reports that the meeting in Turkey was described as "productive" by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. Baghaei said that "we were assured that FIFA would make every effort to ensure that the hosts of the tournament comply with FIFA regulations," indicating that the safety of the Iranian team will be a priority.

• Team visas granted: Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh said on June 3 that all Iranian team members have been granted entry visas. As reported by TASS, visas were issued within 48 hours "without them needing to be personally present or go through the fingerprint scanning procedure at the Mexican Embassy." This claim is carried by a single source and has not been independently verified.

• Training base moved to Mexico: The Iranian football federation has approved relocating the team's training base from the United States to Mexico, as reported by TASS. This decision was lauded by the federation, though specific reasons were not detailed in the reports.

Perspectives

Iranian government perspective: The Iranian Foreign Ministry and football federation emphasize the need for FIFA to ensure safety and proper conditions, reflecting concerns about playing in the United States. The decision to move the training base to Mexico is presented as a practical solution to these concerns.

FIFA's perspective: FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom expressed confidence after the Turkey meeting that Iran would participate, indicating that FIFA is working to accommodate the Iranian team while ensuring compliance with tournament regulations.

Historical context: Iran's participation was previously uncertain. On March 11, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated Iran would skip the World Cup, but later reversed course. The Asian Football Confederation noted that Iran had not officially withdrawn. Negotiations between the Iranian federation and FIFA led to the current arrangement.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. Iran is placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. According to the reports, Iran was originally scheduled to play all three group stage matches in the United States, but the training base has been moved to Mexico, suggesting a potential adjustment in match locations, though no specific changes were reported.