Italy repechage to World Cup: crucial meeting set

Iranian soccer’s top brass are preparing to meet with FIFA in Zurich to discuss the national team’s participation in June’s World Cup in the United States. Mehdi Taj, president of the Tehran Football Federation, failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress in Vancouver on Thursday after being blocked at the airport by Canadian border police. The incident cast further shadows on Iran’s presence at the 2026 World Cup, although FIFA was quick to confirm that Iran will participate in the World Cup

FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to the body’s headquarters by May 20, according to a source close to the matter, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, told the Associated Press. The meeting in Zurich is scheduled three weeks before the Iranian team’s arrival in the United States, where it will train in Tucson, Arizona, ahead of three group matches to be played in Inglewood, California, and Seattle. Italy, as well as other eliminated selections, remains at the window waiting for news.

“We have many topics to address. Our goal is to have a direct confrontation with FIFA soon,” Taj told Iranian media Friday. Iran is a major Asian soccer power, but its presence at the World Cup has been called into question after the Feb. 28 U.S. and Israeli military attacks. The tournament is jointly organized by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

On Thursday, during his keynote address to Congress, FIFA President Gianni Infantino — in front of representatives of 210 out of 211 federations, with Iran’s only absence — strongly reiterated that the Iranian national team will regularly participate in matches in the United States. On the same day, at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed support for the Iranian team, commenting, “If Gianni says so, it’s fine with me.”

The Iranian national team will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt between June 15 and 26. The first two games will be played at the Los Angeles Rams’ NFL stadium, the third at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium. Should Iran qualify as second in the group, it could cross paths with the United States in the round of 16 on July 3 at the Dallas Cowboys stadium.