Iran in suspense: Will it play in the 2026 World Cup? Zurich, the key stage to define the future of the Asian team

FIFA and the Iranian delegation meet in Switzerland to settle World Cup participation in the midst of a tense geopolitical context.

The fate of the Iranian team in the 2026 World Cup hangs in the balance, and the epicenter of this uncertainty is in Zurich. The FIFA has called the leaders of Iranian football to a crucial meeting before next May 20. The objective: to clear up doubts about the participation of the Asian team in the World Cup, which starts on June 11 in USA.

Mehdi Taj, Iran's top soccer official, returned from Vancouver with a clear message: “We have many issues to discuss.” His absence at the annual FIFA congress was no coincidence, and now he is preparing for a decisive meeting at the headquarters of world football's governing body.

The formal invitation came from FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, who has set a deadline for this meeting, seeking a resolution before the Iranian team heads to American soil. This meeting will take place just three weeks before the team settles into its training base in Tucson (Arizona).

Iran's schedule in Group G is ambitious and challenging. The scheduled matches are against New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively, both in inglewood. Later, on June 26, they will face Egypt in seattle. The possibility of advancing as second in the group would open the door to a hypothetical cross against USA in the round of 32, no less than in the imposing Dallas Cowboys stadium on July 3.

Taj has reiterated to the Iranian media the imminence of this meeting with FIFA, a conclave that should confirm, once and for all, whether Iran can be a part of the 2026 World Cup. The shadow of doubt has hung over its participation since USA and Israel They began military actions against Iranian territory on February 28.

The Iranian soccer league has been suspended since the start of the conflict, and there is no indication it will resume before the tournament. Despite the circumstances, the team played two preparatory friendlies in March in Antalya (Türkiye)reaping a defeat against Nigeria (1-2) and a resounding victory against Costa Rica (0-5). There is speculation about a possible return to Turkish lands to finalize the details of his preparation.

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, had already expressed at the Vancouver congress, where Iran was the only absent country among the 211 member federations, his firm conviction that the Iranian team would participate in the World Cup as planned. A message of tranquility that must now be ratified in Zurich.

Even the president of the United States, Donald Trump, joined the wave of support, declaring at the White House his support for the Iranian team: “If Gianni said it, that's fine with me.” A gesture that underlines the diplomatic and sporting importance of this situation.

However, the road to Vancouver was not without obstacles for the Iranian delegation. Taj and two other officials experienced difficulties landing in Toronto, en route to the FIFA congress. The situation generated an atmosphere of tension and mistrust.

Taj recounted the details of their meeting with the Canadian authorities, clarifying that they were not deported, but were subjected to exhaustive interrogation. The key question was whether they belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to which Taj proudly responded: “In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC.”

After being detained for two hours at the Toronto airport, the delegation, which had traveled from Istanbul, was notified that they could continue their trip. However, the final decision was to return to Istanbul, in what Taj described as a virtual deportation, despite there being no official record.

Curiously, Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada, a permit that was previously denied by the United States to attend the World Cup draw, held on December 5 in Washington. This series of events adds a layer of diplomatic complexity to the already delicate situation of the Iranian team.

The expectation is maximum. Iran's sporting future in the 2026 World Cup is being played out in the offices of FIFA, a scenario that will surely generate headlines and debates in the coming days.