Iran continuing World Cup preparations but will not play in the US, says football chief
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Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the Finals but their participation has been in doubt since the conflict between the Islamic Republic and the United States began in late February.
PHOTO: REUTERS
TEHRAN – Iran are continuing to prepare for the 2026 World Cup Finals and have no intention of pulling out of the tournament, even if they will not travel to the United States, football chief Mehdi Taj said on March 18.
Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the Finals but their participation has been in doubt since the conflict between the Islamic Republic and the US and Israel began in late February.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being staged in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Team Melli are scheduled to play all three of their opening-round group matches in the US but Taj said on March 16 that the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) was negotiating with FIFA to have them moved to Mexico.
Before that, they will play Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later in Antalya as part of a four-nation invitational tournament that had to be moved from Jordan because of the conflict in the Middle East.
“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey, and we will also play two friendly matches there,” FFIRI president Taj was quoted as saying by the Fars News Agency on March 18.
“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
Taj was speaking as he welcomed the players from the women’s national team back to Iran at the border crossing from Turkey after their protracted journey from Australia.
The entire delegation, who were in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup, were offered asylum by the host nation because of fears for their safety in Iran. While seven accepted, only two ended up staying.
US President Donald Trump had urged Australia to offer the players asylum and later said that while the Iranian men were welcome to play in the US, it might not be appropriate for their “life and safety”.
He later stressed any threat to the players would not come from the US, but Taj used the president’s statement as grounds for demanding the venue switch.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on March 17 that her country would be open to hosting Iran's World Cup matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in June, but the final say on any venue switch would be FIFA’s.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s friendly against Spain at the month-end, scheduled as part of preparations for the World Cup, has been cancelled, two sources close to the Egyptian Football Association and the national team said.
The game was scheduled to be played in Qatar on March 31. The conflict has affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled due to safety concerns.
Egyptian media reported that the game could be moved to Spain, but the first source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that it could not take place there for “organisational reasons”.
“Some of the Egyptian players did not have visas to enter Spain or Europe, and there was no time to apply due to the upcoming holidays,” the second source added.
“The two federations also failed to reach an agreement on other details. Qatar had previously covered all costs, but the situation was different this time.”
Egypt will face Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on March 27 rather than in Qatar. European champions Spain will face Serbia on the same day following the cancellation of the Finalissima match against Copa America winners Argentina at Doha’s Lusail Stadium.
The Spaniards will take on Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at the World Cup. REUTERS
