Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sports, has reiterated his previous stance on relocating the national team’s matches from the United States to Mexico, stating that if this demand is not met, Iran will not send its football team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in June with the participation of 48 nations, jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Iran has been drawn in Group G alongside Egypt, New Zealand, and Belgium.

Group G matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, with Iran set to play its opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian diaspora population, the majority of whom oppose the current Iranian regime.

Mehdi Taj

Mehdi Taj, a member of the Asian Football Confederation and president of the Iranian Football Federation, who has held roles within the security and intelligence apparatus of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has reportedly been linked multiple times to financial corruption cases. The U.S. government has refused to grant visas to Taj and members of the federation’s security unit, which operates under the Ministry of Intelligence. As a result, Taj was unable to attend the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in the United States.

However, Donyamali’s concerns, as he himself is reportedly listed among prison officials and interrogators from the 1980s, go beyond visa issues. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, it is estimated that eight million Iranians have emigrated due to opposition to the country’s social and ideological conditions. Los Angeles hosts the largest concentration of these expatriates, many of whom oppose the regime. The presence of Iran’s national team in the United States could allow these communities to influence the international media narrative against the government.

Iranians in football stadium

Additionally, past actions by athletes, such as refusing to sing the national anthem, have heightened the regime’s concerns. Iranian authorities are therefore expected to act cautiously regarding the team’s participation. The regime is also aware that, unlike in the previous World Cup in Qatar, U.S. regulations would not allow organizers to suppress dissent. This has further strengthened calls to relocate matches to Mexico.

Infantino’s response

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who traveled to Turkey to attend Iran’s friendly match against Costa Rica, visited the Iranian national team camp and spoke about the team’s situation.

Infantino told Iran’s head coach, “I flew 13 hours to be here today. I wanted to personally tell you that the global football community stands with you. I understand the circumstances, and like any human being, I know how difficult it is when a parent loses a child. In such times, football can play a very positive role for people around the world.”

He added, “We are not politicians, and we are not looking for politics. Our job is football, and what we can do through football is bring people together. I am very happy that the Iranian national team is holding its training camp. As I have said in the media, we have only one plan for this team. Iran has qualified for the World Cup and will participate.”

Following his meeting with the Iranian team, Infantino wrote on Instagram, “I was very pleased to meet the players of the Islamic Republic of Iran national football team ahead of their friendly match against Costa Rica in Antalya.”

He continued, “I had the opportunity to spend time with the players, as well as Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, First Vice President of the Iranian Football Federation, Omid Jamali, Head of International Relations, and Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach.”

President Trump and Inflantino

He added, “Once again, I congratulated the team on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and bringing pride to millions of people in Iran and around the world.”

Infantino emphasized, “Representing a nation comes with great responsibility, and I encouraged the players to continue inspiring their fans and building the dreams of their people on the global stage.”

He concluded, “Even in the most challenging circumstances, football brings unity and hope. FIFA will continue to support the team to ensure the best possible conditions as they prepare for the World Cup. I look forward to seeing them deliver a positive message of humanity and togetherness to the world.”

The wider context of Iranian Football

– Football in Iran is tightly controlled by networks linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which manages the country’s major clubs. The nation’s largest stadium, with a capacity of 100,000, is effectively closed to spectators due to frequent anti-regime chants. Women are only allowed to attend matches under gender-segregated conditions.

– Iran’s women’s national football team faced threats after refusing to sing the national anthem during a tournament in Australia. Some players sought asylum, while others returned to Iran under pressure, following threats and arrests targeting their families. Their current situation remains unclear.

– The Islamic Republic of Iran has seized the assets and property of national footballers Sardar Azmoun, Ali Karimi, Voria Ghafouri, and FIFA referee Alireza Faghani, who lives in Australia, citing their support for civil rights in Iran.

Forced military salute in Iranian football