Mehdi Taj
Iran
chairperson
other
Mehdi Taj is an Iranian sports executive who has served as the president of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) since August 2022, serving his second and third terms. Since 2019, he has also served as one of five vice presidents of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He has a history of serving in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Standing...
Stories...
Sep 10, 2026
Far Left
Former football federation president faces possible indictment accepted by the judiciary, with the federation's legal department saying the case is still in preliminary stages.
Reformists see this as a rare accountability moment for a sports official tied to the establishment, though they suspect it may be a political settling of scores rather than genuine reform.
Jul 28, 2026
Lean Right
President of the Football Federation apologized for Iran's failure to advance in the 2026 World Cup.
Conservative readers expect accountability from sports leadership, but view the apology as insufficient given the national disappointment.
Jul 28, 2026
Center
He apologized for the national football team's failure to advance in the World Cup, citing scheduling and hosting issues.
Pragmatists see the apology as too little, too late, and argue that systemic mismanagement in sports mirrors broader governance failures.
Jul 17, 2026
Lean Right
The head of the Football Federation declared the national team's World Cup performance satisfactory after a meeting with the Sports Minister.
Conservatives view this as a matter of national pride but are wary of overpraising a sports body that operates under international sanctions.
Jul 17, 2026
Center
Head of the football federation, he defended the national team's World Cup results as neither a disaster nor a championship.
Pragmatists see his defensive response as a political sidestep, avoiding accountability for poor performance.
Jun 7, 2026
Far Left
Football Federation chief Taj publicly complained that the US is issuing Iran's national team visas on an hourly basis and predicted further obstruction at the airport.
Reformists note the bitter irony that even a sporting event becomes a site of political humiliation, and Taj's posture of resigned defiance reflects the government's broader helplessness against US pressure.