Iran demands guarantees for World Cup participation
Iran has indicated it will take part in this summer's football World Cup, but has demanded a series of guarantees from Fifa and the tournament's hosts. The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said Iran would compete at the tournament "without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions", while insisting the hosts "must take our concerns into account". Mehdi Taj, FFIRI president, was denied entry to Canada before last month's Fifa Congress.
Taj later revealed Iran had presented Fifa with 10 conditions for participation at the World Cup, which begins on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Demands include guarantees that all players, coaches and officials travelling with the team will receive visas, including those who completed military service with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is listed as a terrorist organisation in Canada and the US, and Mehdi Taj's links to it were cited as a reason he was denied entry into Canada. Iran is also seeking assurances over the treatment of the national team, including respect for the Iranian flag and national anthem, as well as enhanced security at airports, hotels and stadiums during the tournament. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Iranian footballers would be welcome at the tournament, while warning that individuals with links to the IRGC could still face restrictions on entering the United States. Israel and the US launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
The latest developments point towards increasingly complex negotiations between Fifa, Tehran and US authorities over the conditions
Quick Summary
Iran has stated it will participate in the upcoming World Cup, but is seeking guarantees from FIFA and the hosts. Tensions are rising around the team's participation- but what are the demands?
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