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The Iranian national team (in white jerseys) will participate in the 2026 World Cup. |
Speaking at the 76th FIFA Conference in Vancouver, Canada, President Gianni Infantino emphasized that Iran will participate in the world's biggest football event as planned. He affirmed that football must remain separate from politics and play a role in connecting nations. This view also received support from US President Donald Trump.
However, the reality unfolded in the complete opposite direction. At Toronto airport, the entire Iranian Football Federation delegation was denied entry and prevented from attending the conference.
According to The Athletic , President Mehdi Taj was stopped due to suspicions related to his past role in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization that Canada has placed on its banned list.
The Ottawa government took a firm stance, asserting that individuals associated with the organization would not be allowed into its territory. This move immediately drew a strong reaction from Iran, which considered it disrespectful and decided to boycott the conference.
FIFA attempted to de-escalate tensions by offering to provide a chartered plane to bring the Iranian delegation back, but this was unsuccessful. The incident raised concerns about the travel arrangements of the teams and cast serious questions over the coordination between the three countries co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Iran is considered one of the strong representatives from Asia. They are in the same group as New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. All of Iran's matches will take place in the United States.
Source: https://znews.vn/so-phan-tuyen-iran-o-world-cup-2026-post1647962.html
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