TEHRAN — Iran’s national football team has reaffirmed its commitment to competing in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, despite ongoing tensions with the United States, with officials making it clear that the team will not play matches on American soil.
Speaking on the issue, Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said that while Iran has no intention of withdrawing from the tournament, it is actively seeking alternative arrangements for its fixtures. The World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Iran, among the first teams to qualify for the finals, is currently slated to play its opening group-stage matches in the United States. However, Taj confirmed that the Iranian Football Federation is in discussions with FIFA to relocate those matches to Mexico, citing security and political concerns linked to the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington.
“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup,” Taj said, underlining Iran’s position of separating sports participation from geopolitical tensions.
Despite the uncertainty, preparations for the tournament are continuing. The national team, known as Team Melli, is currently holding a training camp in Turkey, where it will also play two friendly matches. Iran is scheduled to face Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica a few days later as part of a four-nation invitational tournament. The event was originally planned in Jordan but was moved due to instability in the Middle East.
Officials say the team remains focused on maintaining competitive readiness, even as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to ensure participation under acceptable conditions.
