Iran issues 10-point list of conditions for World Cup

Iran has made headlines with the specific conditions it has submitted to the host countries for its participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared a comprehensive list of guarantees, particularly against discriminatory practices that its teams might face. The federation has presented a 10-point list of demands to ensure that the national team, as well as journalists and fans, can participate in the tournament without any issues.

Tensions have escalated in recent days after federation president Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada and deported while attempting to attend the FIFA Congress. The Canadian government had blocked his entry, alleging that Taj had ties to the "Revolutionary Guard." Following this development, the Iranian side officially announced its demands for guarantees ahead of the World Cup.

In a statement released by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the demands were announced to the world with the phrase, "For the successes we have achieved and for our team, which qualified for the World Cup on its own merit, we expect the organizing countries to take our sensitivities into account."

The 10 conditions put forward by Iran are as follows: The issuance of visas to all athletes, technical staff, and officials without any restrictions; the provision of visas without discrimination, particularly to players who have completed their military service in the Revolutionary Guard; the absence of additional security screenings or interrogations at border crossings or airports; the full and accurate inclusion of the Iranian flag and national anthem in all events; the facilitation of entry for Iranian fans and journalists into the countries; the protection of the Iranian delegation with high-level security during accommodation, training, and transportation; the full provision of movement security for travel within cities and to stadiums; the restriction of press conference questions to sports-related topics only; and the assurance that no discrimination will be applied to team members due to their beliefs or culture.

Iran, which was drawn into Group G for the 2026 World Cup, will face New Zealand on June 16, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 27. How the conditions set by the federation will be received by the tournament's host countries and FIFA will become clear in the coming days.