FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom will meet Iranian FA officials in Istanbul on Saturday, offering “reassurance” over Iran’s participation in the World Cup, a source told Reuters.
Iran is scheduled to play all three group matches in the United States. But participation has been in doubt since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
FFIRI President Mehdi Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver earlier this month due to his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which both the U.S. and Canada classify as a terrorist entity.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said it is FIFA’s duty to ensure all teams can enter host countries. Any obstruction to players or officials, he warned, would violate the spirit of the World Cup.
FIFA is working with authorities to secure a safe environment for all teams. President Donald Trump said two weeks ago he was “okay” with Iran playing despite ongoing conflict.
Iran had asked to switch matches to Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists games remain at originally scheduled venues.
The Iranian team leaves for a training camp in Turkey on Monday, then moves to Tucson, Arizona in early June. Iran opens against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.