Iran’s national football team has confirmed it will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup but will not play matches in the United States, according to Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj.The tournament, organized by FIFA, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran had originally been set to play all its group-stage matches in the U.S., but officials are now in talks with FIFA to move those fixtures to Mexico.“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup,” Taj stated, emphasizing that Iran remains committed to competing in the tournament.
Currently, the Iranian team is holding a training camp in Turkey, where they are also set to play two friendly matches. As part of their preparations, Iran will face Nigeria and Costa Rica in a four-nation tournament in Antalya, which was relocated from Jordan due to rising tensions in the Middle East.Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump had previously raised concerns about the safety of Iranian players, although he clarified that any potential threats would not originate from the United States.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed willingness to host Iran’s matches, but the final decision rests with FIFA.FIFA has confirmed it is in contact with the Iranian Football Federation and expects all teams to participate according to the official schedule, while global players’ union representatives have urged the governing body to ensure the safety of all participants.
