Iran’s representatives were absent from a meeting of football leaders in Vancouver on Tuesday, leaving the country’s participation in the upcoming World Cup in doubt.
That topic was not discussed today at the meeting of Asia’s top football leaders chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Iran’s sports minister last week announced Iran’s plans to be «proud» participants in this summer’s World Cup, hosted by the United States at North American venues.
Yet the Iranian team and its officials continue to face visa complications, a fact underscored by their absence from Tuesday’s meeting.
A report from The Athletics confirmed that Iran’s absence on Tuesday was due to visa problems, an issue that could prevent their attendance at the general meeting of the FIFA Congress next Thursday.
AFC General Windsor John expressed some public optimism about Iran’s potential participation in the larger meeting, saying the awards given to each Asian eligible country would be presented to Iran «as soon as they arrive.»
Iranian officials had previously encountered problems obtaining visas to attend the World Cup draw in Washington DC last December. That predated the combined US and Israeli attacks on Iran that began in late February, further complicating the situation.
In recent weeks, Iran has lobbied FIFA to move all its scheduled matches to Mexico, but that request has not been met.
Leaders of both Iran and the United States have engaged in hostile rhetoric since President Donald Trump posted on social media: “The Iranian national soccer team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really do not believe it is appropriate for them to be there for their own lives and safety.”
Other US government officials, such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been more moderate, ensuring the safe passage of athletes, support staff and family, but have failed to guarantee entry into the US for anyone outside that range, including executives, journalists and trainers.
“The problem with Iran would not be their athletes, but some of the other people they might want to bring with them,” Rubio said in public comments last week.
The FIFA president expressed a tone of tolerance in his comments on Tuesday.
“Now we even have to show the world that we are here and we are united, and that we can come together from all over the world in a peaceful environment, that we can unite the world,” Infantino said.
Iran is in Group G and will play against New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium (June 21) in Los Angeles and against Egypt in Seattle (June 26).
Published on April 29, 2026
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