Iran withdrew its threat to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup but remained steadfast in its demand not to play matches in the US amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Iran’s head of football, Mehdi Taj, said the team is continuing to prepare for the upcoming tournament even though they will not travel to America for the matches.
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Iran was one of the first teams to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The participation of the Melli team has been in doubt since the beginning of the conflict with the USA at the end of February. Taj was on hand to welcome the Iran women’s team after their trip home from Australia and said the men’s team would hold a training camp in Turkey and play two friendly matches there.
“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey and we will also play two friendly matches there,” FFIRI president Taj was quoted as saying on Wednesday by Fars news agency.
“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
Taj’s latest statement comes days after Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, he said that Iran will not participate in the World Cup after the assassination of the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei.
IRAN’S REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF VENUE
Iran’s demand to change the venue of the matches comes amid and after the ongoing conflict Donald Trump’s statement that the men’s team should skip playing their matches in the US for their own safety. Taj used Trump’s statement to request a change of venue for Team Melli’s matches.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on March 17 that Iran could play its matches in the country, but stressed that the final decision was in the hands of FIFA. Iran is scheduled to play Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the USA in June.
FIFA said it had been in contact with the FFRI but said it wanted all teams involved to stick to the original plan.
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Published on:
19 March 2026 08:35 IST
