Tehran to Host Grand Farewell Ceremony for Iran National Team Ahead of 2026 World Cup
WANA (May 12) – A special farewell ceremony for Iran’s national football team will be held Wednesday night at Enghelab Square in Tehran, with large crowds of fans and senior officials expected to attend. The event will also feature the unveiling of Iran’s new jersey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. local time and will be attended by national team players, coaching staff, Football Federation officials, senior sports authorities, and a number of political and sports figures.
Iran’s national team players will bid farewell to fans before departing for Turkey to continue their training camp preparations. The squad, led by Amir Ghalenoei, will then travel from Turkey to the United States to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During the event, a special anthem dedicated to Iran’s national team will also be unveiled alongside the team’s official World Cup kit.
Replicas of FIFA World Cup Trophy are displayed in a shop in Tehran, Iran, April 23, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
The farewell ceremony comes shortly after Mehdi Taj revealed that the Iranian Football Federation had submitted 10 conditions to FIFA regarding the national team’s participation in the World Cup.
Taj said the conditions were aimed at guaranteeing the Iranian delegation’s rights, security, and equal treatment throughout the tournament. According to him, one of the federation’s main demands is that visas be issued to all members of the Iranian delegation without exception.
“There had been discussions about some individuals possibly not receiving visas, but we are not guests of the host country; we are guests of FIFA, and FIFA must guarantee this matter,” Taj said.
He stressed that FIFA — not the host countries — bears full responsibility for organizing the tournament and ensuring that participating teams face no disruptions.
Taj also stated that, once visas are issued, no additional interviews or restrictions should be imposed on Iranian team members. He further emphasized that no unrelated flags or political symbols should be displayed inside stadiums during Iran’s matches.
The Football Federation president added that Iran’s national anthem must be played completely and without restrictions, noting that previous international tournaments had seen issues arise in that regard.
He also called for full security guarantees for Iran’s national team, saying tournament organizers and police authorities must provide assurances through FIFA rather than directly through the host country.
In addition, Taj announced that efforts are underway to arrange a direct flight from Turkey to the United States through Iranian airlines for the national team delegation.
Taj: Iran Is FIFA’s Guest, Not America’s / 10 Conditions Set for World Cup Participation
WANA (May 10) – The president of the Iran Football Federation said: “We have set 10 conditions for participating in the World Cup, and we are trying to arrange a direct flight from Turkey to the United States through Iranian airlines.” Mehdi Taj, speaking about what happened to him in Canada, said: “I am […]
Iran National Team Schedule – 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – Match 15: Iran vs. New Zealand – 4:30 a.m. Tehran time – Los Angeles Stadium
- Sunday, June 21, 2026 – Match 39: Belgium vs. Iran – 10:30 p.m. Tehran time – Los Angeles Stadium
- Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Match 63: Egypt vs. Iran – 6:30 a.m. Tehran time – Seattle Stadium
