Iran’s Football Federation Calls for Israel’s Expulsion from FIFA

This week, the Iranian Football Federation urged that Israel be expelled from FIFA, citing Israel’s military actions in June aimed at addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s Football Federation, addressed FIFA officials in a letter that was later shared with the Iranian national media. Notably, this announcement followed reports of Israeli airstrikes in June, which allegedly resulted in the death of a soccer employee and injuries to several players. However, no specifics were provided regarding the individuals involved, and the Iranian regime has yet to offer proof of these claims.

The letter raised issues concerning the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which Iran has qualified to enter. The tournament, co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, may require teams to participate in matches held in the United States if they progress beyond the initial rounds. The final is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

In addition, restrictions have been placed by President Donald Trump on Iranians wishing to enter the U.S. this year, a move linked to Iran’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Taj mentioned in his communication to Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, a senior FIFA Council member, his claims about the Israeli government allegedly being responsible for the death of an Iranian judge.

“We articulated that a decision on this matter is necessary. We wrote to FIFA, suggesting that Israel ought to receive a red card and be expelled from the organization,” Taj stated. He expressed concerns over Israel’s alleged attacks on both the territorial integrity of Iran and the country’s football federation, claiming that referees have been militarized and that the national team’s training camp was attacked.

Israeli media reported that the letter accused Israel of “killing an Iranian athlete” and injuring around 30 footballers during the military strike in June.

Though Israel usually struggles in World Cup qualifications, it has participated in the tournament in the past. Currently, the team must compete in UEFA qualifications to secure a place in the international event.

Recently, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) disclosed findings suggesting that Iran was violating international laws due to its extensive uranium enrichment activities. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi indicated that Iran appears to be concealing nuclear development sites from inspectors.

Operation Lion was noted for resulting in the deaths of several high-profile Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials, including Major General Hossein Salami, who leads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a body recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

Hostilities escalated following U.S. involvement, with President Trump announcing on June 21 plans for airstrikes targeting Iran’s illicit nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

In Taj’s correspondence to FIFA, he also labeled the United States as a “hostile” nation, expressing doubts that it would be a suitable host for the Iranian football team. “It holds deep-seated animosity toward our country, and nobody should harbor rosy expectations about its conduct,” Taj remarked.

Although Taj did not directly call for action against the U.S., he raised concerns that the Trump administration might deny visas to Iranian athletes and staff, stating, “They may even try to embarrass us.”

The implications of travel restrictions have led to worries about Iran’s participation in the World Cup, a concern especially relevant as the tournament draw is set for December.

FIFA has yet to comment on the Iranian letter. Nonetheless, global football authorities appear to be actively supporting the U.S. as World Cup hosts. FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the White House, where an executive order was announced to establish a task force for the tournament.

Infantino has emphasized the significant economic benefits, potentially generating $40 billion and creating 200,000 jobs in preparation for the World Cup.

Trump has expressed his commitment to ensuring that the tournament is “the biggest, safest, most extraordinary soccer tournament in history.”