Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has once again been cast into doubt after the president of the country’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, publicly expressed concerns over the team competing in the tournament. His remarks come amid heightened political tensions and a controversy involving members of Iran’s women’s national football team who have reportedly sought asylum in Australia.
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on 11 June and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, Iran’s strained relations with the United States and Israel, coupled with ongoing geopolitical tensions, have raised questions about the national team’s ability or willingness to travel to the tournament.
Speaking to Iranian state television, Taj criticised recent developments surrounding Iranian athletes abroad. His comments followed reports that several members of Iran’s women’s football team had been granted asylum by Australian authorities after travelling there for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
According to Taj, statements made by the United States president on social media regarding possible asylum for Iranian players had further politicised the issue. Referring to a deadly bombing earlier in the conflict, he claimed that the United States and Israel were responsible for an attack on a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, in which he alleged that 160 people were killed. He contrasted that incident with what he described as Western attempts to offer protection to Iranian athletes.
Taj questioned whether it would be appropriate for Iran to send its national team to a tournament hosted partly by the United States under such circumstances. “If the situation remains like this,” he said, “what rational country would send its national team to compete there?”
Despite the controversy, Iran remains scheduled to compete in Group G of the 2026 World Cup. The team will face Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the group stage, with two of their matches planned for Los Angeles and another set to take place in Seattle.
Iran’s Group Stage Overview – 2026 World Cup
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| Host Countries | United States, Mexico, Canada |
| Group | Group G |
| Iran’s Opponents | Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand |
| Match Venues | Los Angeles (2 matches), Seattle (1 match) |
| Tournament Start | 11 June 2026 |
The political dispute has been compounded by developments involving Iran’s women’s national team. The squad had travelled to Australia to compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup but were eliminated during the group stage. Following the tournament, a total of seven members of the Iranian delegation reportedly received asylum in Australia—six players and one member of staff. Initially five individuals were granted refuge, followed later by two more.
The situation attracted particular attention after some Iranian players reportedly declined to sing the national anthem before a group-stage match against South Korea. Iranian state television later labelled those players as “traitors”, intensifying fears that they could face punishment upon returning home.
Reports suggest that concerns over potential repercussions prompted several team members to seek asylum. Nevertheless, the players did sing the national anthem in their subsequent two matches, according to Iranian officials.
Taj defended the team’s conduct, stating that the women’s national squad had sung the anthem and even performed a military salute during the tournament. At the same time, he alleged—without presenting evidence—that several players had effectively been “abducted” and that Australian authorities had interfered with the team’s movements.
He claimed that Australian police intervened after the matches and that, according to reports received by the Iranian federation, one or two players were taken from the team hotel.
The dispute has placed Iranian football at the centre of a broader political debate involving sport, diplomacy and human rights. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, it remains unclear whether the escalating tensions will ultimately affect Iran’s participation in football’s biggest global tournament.