The president of Iran’s football federation has asked whether the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the US-Israeli bombing of the country.
“It is certain that after this attack we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj said, according to the AP. His comments came as Iran has traded blows with Israel in an escalating conflict.
Taj’s remarks raise uncertainty over Iran’s scheduled matches at the 2026 FIFA 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 ready to play with all three of their own first round matches in the United States.
They are scheduled to face New Zealand in Inglewood, California on June 15. On June 21, they will face Belgium. Their final group game is against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Taj did not announce his withdrawal from the tournament. Nor did he confirm any formal request from FIFA. However, according to him, the current situation makes it difficult to approach the competition with optimism.
The conflict escalated after US-Israeli strikes continued for a second day on Sunday. The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has deepened insecurity and raised fears of wider regional instability.
Iran and Israel have been trading strikes ever since. The situation remains fluid and politically sensitive.
FIFA has yet to officially clarify its position 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 on Taj’s comments.
Travel and visa issues may also come into focus. Iranian fans were included in the first iteration of the travel ban imposed during the Trump administration. While the policy has changed over time, past restrictions made it difficult for Iranian citizens to enter the United States.
Already at the beginning of this year, there were questions about the security of the tournament. In Mexico, violence followed the death of a powerful drug lord, prompting scrutiny of security measures against competition.
The World Cup is less than a few months away. Organizers continue preparations across the three host countries. For now, Iran is slated for the competition. However, the developing conflict has thrown new uncertainty into the build-up to football’s biggest event.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
02 March 2026 18:19 IST
