Iran Soccer Chief Negotiating World Cup Visas with FIFA

Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's soccer federation, stated he is discussing visa issues for the upcoming World Cup with FIFA, not the United States.

Thu Jun 04 2026

Iran Faces World Cup Visa Challenges

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced that his organization is in discussions with FIFA to secure visas for the Iranian team to participate in the World Cup, which begins next week. Taj emphasized that the federation is dealing directly with FIFA, rather than the United States, regarding these visa matters.

Pursuing Visa Issuance Through FIFA

Taj clarified that the process of obtaining visas for Iran's players and staff is being handled through negotiations with FIFA. This indicates that, despite the tournament being hosted by the United States, direct discussions about visa issuance are not occurring with the U.S. government.

*Source: NYTimes World (2026-06-04)*

Tags: #Iran #Soccer #World Cup #FIFA #Sports