Iran’s national football team has released an official statement detailing FIFA’s response to concerns raised by the Iranian Football Federation ahead of its decisive 2026 World Cup group-stage match against Egypt.
The statement, issued by the Iranian national team’s media department, said the federation had communicated its position to FIFA through official correspondence and meetings following inquiries from international media regarding the possibility of non-sporting events or promotional activities taking place during the fixture.
According to the statement, FIFA informed both participating teams that no celebrations or promotional activities connected to the issue raised by Iran would be included inside the stadium or within the official match programme.
The announcement comes as Egypt and Iran prepare to meet early on Saturday in the third and final round of Group G matches, with both teams seeking a result to strengthen their hopes of progressing to the World Cup round of 32.
Iranian Federation Details Discussions With FIFA
In its statement, the Iranian media department outlined the federation’s position and the response it received from football’s governing body.
It said: “The Iranian Football Federation has officially expressed its concern and position to FIFA through numerous letters and meetings. FIFA has also confirmed to both participating teams that no celebrations or promotional activities related to this issue will take place inside the stadium or within the official match program.”
The statement indicated that the matter had been discussed through official channels before the match, with FIFA providing assurances regarding the organisation of activities surrounding the fixture.
FIFA Says All Supporters Are Welcome
The Iranian statement also referred to FIFA’s position on supporters attending the match.
It added: “At the same time, FIFA stressed that fans of all orientations are welcome to attend the match.”
The federation said it had sought clarification from FIFA in response to questions from international media and had received confirmation regarding how the official match environment would be managed.
Shared Values Highlighted Ahead of Egypt Encounter
The Iranian Football Federation also pointed to the cultural and religious links between the two competing nations.
The statement said: “Iran and Egypt are two Muslim countries with deep cultural and religious commonalities, and the views expressed by the unions reflect the shared values and beliefs of the people of both countries.”
It continued by reiterating the federation’s position on activities connected to the issue.
“Iran’s position is that no promotional events or activities related to this project will be held inside the stadium or within the match halls, and FIFA has been informed of this position through official channels.”
The federation further stated: “We believe that FIFA should take into account the views and concerns of the participating teams when making decisions regarding the atmosphere of the match and how to organize programs inside the stadium.”
FIFA Acknowledges Position of Both Teams
The statement concluded by saying FIFA had recognised the position presented by both countries ahead of the match.
It ended: “FIFA is aware of the shared position of both countries and has committed to taking the necessary measures to ensure that no related promotional events or activities take place inside the stadium or as part of the official match environment.”
Decisive Group G Match Looms
While attention has focused on the off-field statement, the sporting significance of the fixture remains considerable.
Egypt and Iran are scheduled to meet at 6:00am on Saturday, according to Cairo and Mecca time, in the final round of Group G matches at the 2026 World Cup.
The match will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, USA, with both teams aiming to strengthen their chances of advancing to the round of 32.
Supporters will be able to watch the encounter live on beIN SPORTS MAX 1.
With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, the meeting between Egypt and Iran is expected to be one of the key fixtures of the final group-stage round, as both sides seek the result needed to continue their World Cup campaigns.
