On May 13, 2026, Iran held a send-off ceremony for its World Cup team, attended by thousands of fans at Enqelab Square in the capital Tehran. The Iranian team is set to depart for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
At the event, players received enthusiastic cheers as they delivered patriotic statements on stage. The ceremony also unveiled the team’s kit for the 2026 World Cup. Following the event, the team will travel to Turkey for further training at a camp.
Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said on state television: “This is the best send-off in the last four World Cups. The players stand with the people, and the crowd is behind the dignity, honor, and strength of the country. Whatever the result, I hope the Iranian flag is raised and protected at the tournament.”
Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, sparking a regional war on February 28. Earlier, an FFIRI delegation led by Mehdi Taj was denied entry at Toronto's main airport in Canada due to allegations linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Canada has listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization since 2024.
The incident raised concerns that some members of the Iranian delegation might face trouble entering the US. In the US, the IRGC is also designated as a “terrorist entity,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that anyone with ties to the group will not be allowed entry into the United States.
Iran has placed responsibility on FIFA to ensure that players and team officials can enter the US, where the team will play all three of its World Cup group-stage matches. Hedayat Mombeini, Secretary-General of FFIRI, said: “There is no information yet about the visas. We hope everything is resolved in this time. FIFA has made promises, and we hope those promises lead to results so that players receive their visas on time.”
Iran will play a friendly match against The Gambia in Antalya, Turkey, on May 29. The FFIRI is currently arranging another friendly during the training camp in Turkey.
