Iran players pose for a team photo at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran (left) as U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo) Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said Iran will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup but plans to boycott the United States due to ongoing tensions.“We will prepare for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States, but not the World Cup,” Taj said in a video released by Iran’s Fars News Agency on Wednesday, according to AFP.Iran are currently scheduled to play their group stage matches in the United States. However, the federation has started negotiations with FIFA about the possibility of moving these matches to another venue. So far, FIFA has said that the tournament schedule remains unchanged.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that Mexico was ready to host Iran’s group matches if needed. “Yes,” she replied when asked about the possibility. “Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, so we will wait for FIFA to decide.”Iran’s participation in the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has been in the spotlight since the conflict in the Middle East began last month. US President Donald Trump has previously warned that the safety of Iranian players could be at risk if they travel to the United States.Gianni Infantino initially said that Trump had received assurances that the Iranian team would be able to participate. Iran will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.However, Trump later said the Iranian team should not travel to the tournament “for their own lives and safety”, sparking strong reactions. Iran responded by stating that “no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup”.Iran qualified for the tournament almost a year ago after topping their group, becoming the second Asian team after Japan to secure a place.The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently scheduled in Tucson, Arizona.Meanwhile, Abolfazl Pasandideh criticized the US government’s “lack of cooperation in issuing visas and providing logistical support” for the Iranian delegation in a statement released on Monday.If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, it is not yet known which team would replace them.
