Iran still plans to participate in World Cup but will not travel to US

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TEHRAN: The Iranian national football team will proceed with its 2026 World Cup campaign but refuses to travel to the United States due to the ongoing military conflict between the two nations. Iranian Football chief Mehdi Taj confirmed on Wednesday that while "Team Melli" has no intention of pulling out of the tournament they worked hard to qualify for, they will not enter American territory for their scheduled fixtures.

Currently, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) is in active negotiations with FIFA to relocate their three opening-round group matches from the U.S. to Mexico. This decision follows recent security concerns and political tensions that began in late February.

Mr. Taj emphasized the federation's stance via the Fars News Agency, stating, "The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey, and we will also play two friendly matches there," FFIRI President Mr Taj was quoted as saying by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday. "We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup."

To maintain match fitness during these diplomatic negotiations, the squad is currently holding a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. They are scheduled to play friendly matches against Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica on March 31. These preparation games were moved to Turkey from Jordan due to broader instability in the Middle East, reflecting the team's shift toward neutral venues.

Photo Credits: AFP