The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, stated in a video released by the Fars news agency that the country "will boycott the United States," but "not the World Cup."
The statement comes amid a diplomatic and security crisis that puts the logistics of the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
Iran has been drawn to play its group stage matches on American soil (Los Angeles and Seattle).
However, attacks by the US and Israel on the country have changed the scenario and raised doubts about Iran's participation in the Cup.
The Iranian federation has even opened talks with FIFA to try to move its matches from the US to Mexico, where it received support from the president of Mexico.
Claudia Sheinbaum declared that the country is ready to host Iran's matches if FIFA decides to make the change, citing the maintenance of stable diplomatic relations with all nations.
So far, the highest football authority has kept the schedule unchanged, with no official plans to move the venues.
Risks and threats
Iran's participation has become a political puzzle after Donald Trump warned that the safety of Iranian players would be at risk if they traveled to the United States.
Sources interviewed by the newspaper The Guardian describe the situation as a “game of strategy” between Washington and Tehran, where each side tries to force the other into a withdrawal that could be used as political propaganda.
Iran's path in the Cup
If the schedule is maintained, Iran will face:
- New Zealand (Los Angeles)
- Belgium (Los Angeles)
- Egypt (Seattle)
An interesting fact: if Iran finishes as the runner-up in its group and the US also advances in second place, the two teams would face each other right in the round of 32 (knockout stage), in Dallas.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
