TEHRAN (IRAN) (ITALPRESS) – Iran’s participation in the next World Cup is not currently in doubt, but FIFA “must provide us with the necessary guarantees.” This is the position expressed by Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation.
Team Melli is expected to begin its preparation in a couple of weeks in Turkey, “but it depends on our meeting with Infantino,” he said, as reported by the Iranian agency Irib. “We must receive the necessary guarantees from FIFA to take part in these competitions, so that incidents similar to those that happened in the past do not occur again.”
Taj was referring in particular to what happened last week in Canada, where the Iranian delegation he led was denied entry into the country ahead of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver due to alleged links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been on the list of terrorist organizations since 2024.
“If full respect is maintained and there are no offenses, especially towards the official and military institutions of our country, we will have no problem participating. Otherwise, it is obvious that an appropriate response will be given. We have nothing against the United States; we qualified on merit, but our point of reference is FIFA, not Trump or others. If offenses were to occur, it could happen that the national team returns home.”
From a strictly football perspective, Iran is expected to play two preparatory friendlies in Turkey and one in the United States.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
