Iran's football federation president suggests a potential boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to safety concerns, particularly regarding matches scheduled in the United States. The country is seeking to move its group stage matches to Mexico, citing security risks following recent tensions and attacks. The situation remains uncertain, with negotiations ongoing with FIFA and conflicting statements from Iranian officials.
Iran ian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. Iran ’s football federation president suggested the country’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is uncertain, raising the possibility of a boycott.
Iran is currently scheduled to play in Los Angeles. If they withdraw, Iraq or the United Arab Emirates are possible replacements.It was unclear whether such talks are happening with FIFA, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. attributed to Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group stage matches to Mexico to ensure the safety of players and officials. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement said. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”. Iran is scheduled to play against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before finishing group play indespite the ongoing war in the Middle East Iran has sent mixed signals about its participation in the tournament after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks that killed the Islamic republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures. Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that it was not possible to play"due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran.” But after Trump's post the national team said on Instagram that “no one can exclude” it from the tournament and a government spokesman in Tehran stressed in it was the responsibility of FIFA and the U.S. as a co-host nation to keep players safe and secure. “FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup,” Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. “When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event.” Soccer is followed passionately in Iran, a nation of more than 90 million people which has qualified for seven men's World Cups and each of the past four editions. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and behind only Japan from Asia.The initial timeline that U.S. officials gave for the war in Iran was four to six weeks, but ultimately, the war will end when President Donald Trump "determines the military objectives have been met," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing today.
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