Iran’s football federation president has questioned whether the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following U.S.-Israeli bombardment of the country.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj was quoted as saying on AP. His comments came as Iran traded strikes with Israel in an escalating conflict.
Taj’s remarks raise uncertainty over Iran’s scheduled fixtures at the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iran have been drawn in Group G and are set to play all three of its first-round matches in the United States.
They are due to face New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15. They will then play Belgium on June 21. Their final group match is against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Taj did not announce a withdrawal from the tournament. He also did not confirm any formal request to FIFA. However, he said the current situation makes it difficult to approach the competition with optimism.
The conflict escalated after U.S.-Israeli strikes continued for a second day on Sunday. The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has deepened uncertainty and raised fears of wider regional instability.
Iran and Israel have since traded strikes. The situation remains fluid and politically sensitive.
FIFA has yet to officially clarify its stance on whether the conflict could affect Iran’s participation in matches hosted in the United States. The governing body has not issued a public statement addressing Taj’s comments.
Travel and visa concerns may also come into focus. Iranian fans were included in the first iteration of the travel ban introduced during the Trump administration. While policies have shifted over time, past restrictions have complicated entry into the United States for Iranian citizens.
There were already questions earlier this year about tournament security. In Mexico, violence followed the death of a powerful drug lord, prompting scrutiny of safety measures ahead of the competition.
The World Cup is less than a few months away. Organisers are continuing preparations across the three host nations. For now, Iran remains scheduled to compete. However, the evolving conflict has introduced fresh uncertainty into the build-up to football’s biggest event.
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