The governing body of world football has moved to dispel doubts over Iran’s participation in this summer’s World Cup, with FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom describing talks with Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj as “constructive and positive.” The meeting, held in Istanbul on Saturday, came as the Islamic Republic faces unprecedented obstacles to entering the host nations for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches on American soil, but its involvement has been thrown into question since US and Israeli airstrikes against Iranian targets in late February, and the subsequent hardening of visa restrictions tied to Washington’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation.

From Tehran, the federation had laid down ten conditions for the team’s participation, demanding unimpeded visa issuance, respect for the national flag and anthem, and robust security at airports, hotels, and on routes to stadiums. The concerns were sharpened earlier this month when Taj himself was denied entry to Canada and deported from Vancouver Airport before a scheduled FIFA Congress, a move that Canadian authorities justified by his reported links to the IRGC. In response, Iran’s squad will travel to Antalya, Turkey, on Monday for a pre-tournament training camp, where the 30-man roster selected by head coach Amir Ghalenoei — including star striker Mehdi Taremi — will also process visa applications and play a friendly against Gambia on May 29 before flying to the United States.

Viewed from Washington, the question is less about football and more about the enforcement of sanctions and immigration law. The US and Canada, as co-hosts, have made clear they will not admit individuals associated with the IRGC, a designation that casts a shadow over Iran’s entire delegation. Grafstrom, for his part, declined to provide specifics on whether FIFA had secured guarantees for visas, stating only that “we discussed all related matters” and that the meeting was part of routine dialogue with member associations. Taj, however, later claimed that FIFA had found “solutions for all our demands,” a characterisation that independent observers treat with caution.

Analysts in London note that FIFA is walking a tightrope between its principle of universal membership — no team should be excluded for political reasons — and the sovereign rights of host countries to control their borders. The organisation’s leverage is limited: it can apply diplomatic pressure but cannot compel the United States or Canada to waive visa restrictions. What the Istanbul talks achieved, at best, is a procedural roadmap for Iran to apply for visas through Turkey and a public show of confidence intended to reassure the team and its supporters. Yet the underlying tension remains unresolved. If any Iranian player or official is refused entry at a US port of entry, the symbolic fallout would be immense, and the tournament would face its first serious political crisis before a ball is kicked.