FFIRI

The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) is the national governing body for football in Iran, affiliated with FIFA and the AFC. Founded in 1920 (formally reorganised post-revolution), it selects the national squad, manages domestic football via the Persian Gulf Pro League, and holds sole authority over Iran's international participation decisions. Current president: Mehdi Taj.

FFIRI became the focal point of Iran's political crisis over the 2026 World Cup following Supreme Leader Khamenei's death. Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali declared Iran 'cannot participate' , but president Mehdi Taj publicly contradicted him, insisting Iran would boycott America, not the tournament . FIFA rejected FFIRI's relocation request on 12 April; the 'Pearson incident' on 29 April, when Canadian border officers turned Taj back citing his reported former IRGC role, hardened FFIRI's position. On 9 May Taj issued a 10-point ultimatum demanding guaranteed US Visa clearance for players Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, naming Taremi's IRGC naval conscription at Bushehr (2010-2012) as the specific hold on the US file. Mexico entry visas were issued around 2 June; FIFA approved FFIRI's request to shift the base camp from Tucson to Tijuana. Taj set 5 June as his clearance Deadline; it elapsed without a US issuance or formal denial. On 6 June Iran's 26-player squad departed Antalya via Spain, carrying Mexican visas but no US visas, for Tijuana. All three Group G fixtures were on US soil; Iran were eliminated at the group stage without losing a match.

As of 4 July, FFIRI has filed no case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport over Iran's World Cup exit and its Visa-related grievances. That vacuum has instead been filled by a private US lawsuit: Iranian-American academic Lotfollah Kaveh Afrasiabi, previously charged by the US Department of Justice under FARA as an alleged unregistered agent of Iran, filed a $1bn federal suit against FIFA and president Gianni Infantino in Boston on 30 June. FFIRI has not endorsed the claim, which remains legally distinct from any federation-level complaint.