The clock is ticking for Iranian soccer as top officials prepare for a critical meeting with FIFA in Zurich, with their World Cup participation in the United States hanging in the balance. Iran's football chief, Mehdi Taj, returned home from Canada on Friday acknowledging there are "many issues to discuss" after missing FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver—a meeting he was expected to attend.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has extended an official invitation for an Iranian delegation to visit the organization's Zurich headquarters, with a May 20 deadline looming. That date is especially significant: it falls just three weeks before Iran's squad is scheduled to arrive in the U.S., where they're set to set up a training base in Tucson, Arizona, ahead of three group-stage matches in Inglewood, California, and Seattle.
Iran has long been a powerhouse in Asian soccer, but questions about their ability and willingness to travel to the World Cup have intensified since military attacks involving the U.S. and Israel began on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, adding layers of geopolitical and logistical complexity.
During Thursday's FIFA congress, President Gianni Infantino addressed global soccer leaders—with Iran notably absent among the 211 member federations—and firmly reiterated that Iran will play as scheduled in the U.S. Later that day at the White House, President Donald Trump backed that stance, saying, "If Gianni said it, I'm OK." The two leaders have closely coordinated on World Cup preparations, which face additional challenges beyond Iran, including visa and security concerns for fans from several African countries.
Taj, who also serves as a vice president of Asia's soccer body, detailed the trouble he and two other Iranian officials encountered upon landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver. While he clarified he was not deported, the issues with Canadian authorities set the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes diplomatic and sporting showdown in Zurich.