Istanbul: FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrm has announced that the organization is eagerly anticipating Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup. This announcement followed a significant meeting between representatives of the Iranian Football Federation and FIFA officials, which was described as positive and constructive.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, a FIFA delegation led by Grafstrm met with officials from Iran's Football Federation in Istanbul, Turkey. The meeting, which took place at the Turkish Football Federation headquarters, centered on preparations for Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup. Discussions included operational matters, competition protocols, and planning for the tournament, with FIFA reaffirming their full support for Iran's presence at the global event.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously emphasized the welcoming nature of the 2026 World Cup in North America, describing it as the most inclusive sporting event in history. In the recent Istanbul meeting, Grafstr¶m reiterated FIFA's commitment to ensuring Iran's participation occurs smoothly and professionally.

Grafstrm stated, "We had a very good and constructive meeting with the Iranian Football Federation. We maintain close cooperation and are eagerly looking forward to Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup. We discussed several operational issues that are normally addressed with all member federations, and we are pleased that the exchange took place in a positive atmosphere."

Both FIFA and the Iranian Football Federation expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussions and enthusiasm about welcoming Iran's national team to the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, also described the meeting as positive and constructive, highlighting the shared commitment to ensuring Iran's smooth participation in the tournament.

Iran, having qualified for the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time, is set to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt next month in the United States. The national team's training camp has been planned in Tucson, Arizona, in preparation for the matches.