Mehdi Taj said his federation has been dealing with FIFA, not the United States, in trying to obtain visas for Iran to play in the tournament that begins next week.
Iran’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup in North America have unfolded against the backdrop of war, bellicose language and continuing doubts the national team will receive visas in time.
The unease has already led to summits between Iranian officials and the top leaders of soccer’s governing body. At the center of it has been Mehdi Taj, the longtime president of Iran’s soccer federation.
In a rare interview, Mr. Taj, a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, left little doubt whom he blames for the complications.
As Iran’s national team prepared to set off for Mexico instead of the United States, a last-minute change brought on amid continuing tension, Mr. Taj said the decision was made with FIFA to minimize the team’s time in the United States, which he blames for all of the uncertainty over Iran’s World Cup participation.
Speaking over a video call, Mr. Taj pointed out Iran had been the third team to qualify for what will be the biggest World Cup in history — spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico with 48 teams competing — and the first to feature a host at war with one of the competing nations.
Those preparations, he said, had been affected in ways that have disadvantaged his team. Most recently Iran’s soccer team abruptly changed its World Cup base from the United States to Tijuana following talks with FIFA in Turkey, where the team has been practicing for much of the past month.