Taj was previously a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he was “okay” with Iran’s participation in the tournament.
“Well if Gianni said it I’m okay. Did Gianni say it? … You know what? Let them play. Well, Gianni’s fantastic, he’s a friend of mine,” said Trump, who was awarded the “FIFA Peace Prize” in December.
Trump previously told Politico in March that “I really don’t care” if Iran participates in the World Cup, and in a post on Truth Social that month wrote that “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Iran last month requested alternative venues for matches in the U.S., which FIFA rejected.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s national team would be allowed to participate in the tournament last week, but said that anyone deemed to have ties to the IRGC would be barred from entering the U.S..
