Taj in Interview with NYT: We Are Only in Contact with FIFA, Not the U.S.
Tehran - BORNA - The preparations of the Iranian national team for the upcoming World Cup in North America have been unfolding against a backdrop of war, hostile rhetoric from the American side, and significant uncertainties regarding the timely issuance of visas for the team. These concerns have already led to meetings between Iranian officials and senior executives of world football's governing body.
The New York Times reported that Mehdi Taj, speaking via a video call, noted that Iran was the third team to qualify for the World Cup, marking the first time in history that a host country is at war with one of the participating nations. According to him, these circumstances have impacted the team’s preparations in a way that has put his squad at a distinct disadvantage.
The relocation of the Iranian national team's training camp from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico, is the latest example of these developments—a decision finalized following discussions with FIFA in Turkey.
Speaking from Tehran on Tuesday, Taj expressed deep regret that visa applications for the team's delegation—which is scheduled to play three matches in the Western United States—have still not been approved. Mehdi Taj emphasized that a host nation should not possess the authority to disrupt the preparation processes of qualified teams.
He also stated that the martyrdom of Iran's Supreme Leader at the onset of the war, along with the bombing of a school that resulted in the deaths of over one hundred children, had cast an atmosphere of "ambiguity" over Iran's participation. However, he added that Iranian officials have since held constructive negotiations with FIFA officials, including its President, Gianni Infantino, to pave the way for the team's presence.
Infantino, who maintains a close relationship with Donald Trump, traveled to Turkey in March to show support for the Iranian team, and last month, FIFA’s top administrative official, Mattias Grafström, also met with Iranian authorities.
"We are only in contact with FIFA, we have no contact with the United States, and we do not know what their stance is," Taj remarked.
Taj added that the pre-World Cup visa complications have led Iran to suspect that the United States might create severe obstacles for them. He spoke positively regarding the last-minute camp relocation, noting that Tijuana offers better conditions than Tucson, as it is closer to Los Angeles (the venue for two of Iran's matches), features better weather, and provides easier access to transportation links.
Taj noted that he was unaware of any explicit request from the United States to change Iran's camp location. "We reached a mutual agreement with FIFA that we want our footprint inside the United States to be kept to an absolute minimum," he explained.
For FIFA, this crisis demands delicate management: satisfying an eager host nation on one side, reassuring a qualified team on the other, all while preserving its political neutrality—a neutrality that has previously been questioned due to Infantino’s warm relationship with Trump.
Taj concluded that according to FIFA's core principles of "Fair Play," all qualified teams must be treated equally, adding that defending this principle against political interference is the duty of FIFA, not Iran.
When asked at the conclusion of the interview whether he was certain that Iran's opening match would take place, Taj offered no guarantees, saying, "You must ask that question of FIFA."
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