New Delhi: The president of Iran’s football federation has cast doubt on the nation’s participation in FIFA World Cup matches in the United States following the U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country.
National football body chief Mehdi Taj said he is unsure whether the Iran national team can play in the 2026 FIFA WC fixtures on U.S. soil.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran and Israel traded missile and drone strikes prompted by the combined U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, which has triggered a widening war in the Gulf region.
U.S.-Israel continued the bombardment in Iran for a second day on Sunday after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali, who was killed after a series of missile strikes around Tehran were aimed at targeting high-ranking Iranian officials.
Khamenei’s death has thrown the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and instability.
Having been drawn in Group G at the FIFA World Cup, Iran are scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before rounding off the league stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The U.S. is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The 23rd edition of the football showpiece event will be the first to be hosted by three countries.
After hosting the 1970 and 1986 editions, Mexico will become the first nation to host or co-host the World Cup three times. Meanwhile, the USA will host the tournament more than three decades after it staged the 1994 edition. Canada, in contrast, will host/co-host the prestigious sporting event for the first time.
Iranian fans were already prohibited from entering the USA as part of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
FIFA is yet to respond to the situation regarding Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
