Iran’s national football team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but unlike in Qatar, they’ll likely be traveling without their usual government spectators and security forces
Iran’s national football team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but unlike in Qatar, they’ll likely be traveling without their usual government spectators and security forces
Iran’s national football team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but unlike in Qatar, they’ll likely be traveling without their usual government spectators and security forces.
The tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico presents unprecedented isolation for a team accustomed to substantial state support at international competitions.
For the first time in recent tournament history, Iran’s football team will compete without the extensive network of government handlers, security agents, and organized supporters accompanying them to Qatar in 2022.
The three North American host nations, having designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization, are expected to deny entry to the security apparatus and government-affiliated spectators that typically surround the team.
Official reports in Iranian media reveal that the Iranian Football Federation and government security agencies spent over $2.1 million specifically to send government-affiliated spectators to Qatar in 2022.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup coincided with nationwide protests in Iran. As athletes began joining these protests, the Iranian government spent heavily to send operatives to Qatar for what they termed “field control.”
This phrase first appeared in November 2022 in leaked documents from the Fars news agency.
The documents revealed that Qasem Qureishi, deputy commander of the Basij Organization, told editors from pro-government media outlets about plans to send groups to Qatar to control stadium environments.
Photos from the 2022 World Cup showed numerous government-connected figures in attendance, including Amir Hossein Sabeti, who is now an MP.
According to the online newspaper Faraz, security agencies sent at least 350 government supporters to Qatar.
The estimated cost for travel and accommodation in Doha reached $1.8 million. Each person received a minimum of $100 in “mission pay,” with some high-profile supporters reportedly receiving up to $2,000.
Considering the lowest mission payment rate for these forces, the Islamic Republic spent more than $2.1 million to send the spectators to Qatar.
Iran’s Planning for the North American World Cup
In November 2024, IranWire reported that a “World Cup Headquarters” had been established, according to sources in the Football Federation and Ministry of Sports.
The committee includes senior officials from the Football Federation, the Ministry of Sports, and IRGC Intelligence representatives.
According to sources, the headquarters’ primary focus is not team preparation but controlling stadium atmospheres during Iran’s matches in North America.
One of IranWire’s sources in the Football Federation said a major concern for the Football Federation and security agencies was obtaining visas for government-affiliated spectators.
The forces sent to Doha, Qatar’s capital, during the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup were from the Basij Organization and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The United States, through an executive order from Donald Trump, designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Canadian government also announced that it had placed the IRGC on its list of terrorist organizations.
Consequently, it is likely that none of the organized supporters from the Islamic Republic’s security institutions will be able to travel to the United States and Canada as “government spectators.”
According to an IranWire source, even some Football Federation managers are already concerned about not receiving visas to enter these two countries.
Sources revealed that funds previously used for sending government supporters to international competitions will now target Iranian diaspora communities.
Officials have reportedly begun negotiating with pro-government influencers abroad to help manage Iran’s image during the tournament.
The influencers will be tasked with encouraging Iranians living in North America to support the team while discouraging political displays in stadiums.
Visa Restrictions for Iranian Officials
A source told IranWire that Mehdi Taj, President of Iran’s Football Federation, may struggle to obtain a U.S. visa due to his reported connections to IRGC Intelligence.
International sporting regulations only require host countries to issue visas to athletes and coaches for the competition period.
While accredited journalists typically receive visa support, there are no requirements for host nations to admit federation officials, security personnel, or government-selected spectators.
According to IOC and FIFA regulations, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico must only guarantee entry for Iran’s players and coaching staff - not administrative officials or government supporters.
After enjoying significant freedom to operate in Qatar in 2022, Iranian officials now face a different scenario for the 2026 tournament.
The national team, for once, may truly be just that - a team of athletes representing their country on the world stage without the government apparatus that has long controlled their public image and interactions.