Iran says it will go to the World Cup but handed the US a list of 10 conditions, and one of them puts two of its biggest stars in the crosshairs

The Iranian national football team is officially planning to head to the 2026 World Cup, but the path to the tournament is anything but straightforward. The Iranian football federation announced on May 9, 2026, that it will participate in the games, but has laid out 10 specific conditions that the host nations, including the United States, must meet before it feels comfortable making the trip. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.

The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation has been building since the United States and Israel launched a war on the country back in February. That conflict has made the team’s journey to matches on U.S. soil a major diplomatic and logistical challenge. As detailed by Al Jazeera, the federation stated on its official website that while it intends to participate, it will not retreat from its beliefs, culture, or convictions.

Among the 10 conditions are requirements for visa guarantees, high-level security at airports and hotels, and respect for the team’s flag and national anthem throughout the tournament. The federation is demanding that the hosts take these concerns seriously, and the conditions represent a formal, public stance rather than quiet backroom negotiations.

The IRGC demands are the sticking point

Perhaps the most complicated of the demands involves the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Federation president Mehdi Taj has been vocal about needing assurances that the IRGC will not be insulted by the United States. The U.S. designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2024, making this a direct and significant point of contention.

The issue is now directly impacting some of the team’s biggest names. Taj specifically pointed out that players and staff who have served their military service in the IRGC, including Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, must be granted visas without issue. The federation is clearly signaling it will not leave its key players behind.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already weighed in, saying that while the U.S. generally has no objection to Iranian athletes competing, it is a different story for those with IRGC ties. NBC News reported that Rubio has warned the U.S. may bar entry to individuals connected to the group, which directly clashes with the federation’s demands. This conflict between U.S. policy and Iran’s conditions has no clear resolution heading into the final weeks before the tournament.

This tension has a precedent. The Iranian delegation previously faced a major hurdle when Canada refused entry to Taj ahead of the FIFA Congress. Taj said the delegation was treated with disrespect, though Canadian officials later clarified his visa was cancelled due to his links to the IRGC. The episode drew scrutiny at a time when World Cup 2026 ticket costs were already drawing fan backlash. FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom has since expressed regret over the Canada incident and invited the federation to Zurich on May 20 to discuss World Cup preparations.

Despite the back-and-forth, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has maintained that Iran will play their scheduled games in the U.S. as planned. Iran is set to be based in Tucson, Arizona, and will open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. Their group also includes Belgium and Egypt. Amid all of this, Iran and the U.S. have clashed over separate naval incidents, adding further tension to an already fragile bilateral relationship ahead of the tournament.

With the domestic football season in Iran suspended, the players have been training in camps in Tehran. The federation has maintained that no external power should be able to deprive them of a spot they earned through merit.

Taj has told state media that their host is FIFA, not the United States government, and has said he is looking for a guarantee that the team can travel with peace of mind. He has suggested that if those guarantees are not met, the situation could mirror what happened in Canada, where the delegation turned back. FIFA has invited the federation to Zurich on May 20, which will serve as a key indicator of whether a resolution is within reach.