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Iran will continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it is not yet certain whether the team will travel to the United States for its scheduled group stage matches, Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday.
Speaking in a video released by the Iranian news agency Fars, Taj stated, “We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup.” The decision comes amid escalating diplomatic strains between Tehran and Washington.
Iran is currently scheduled to play all three of its group matches in U.S. cities, facing New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle. In response to the situation, the Iranian football federation has opened discussions with FIFA about potentially relocating its matches, though the global governing body has maintained that the tournament schedule remains unchanged.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Tuesday that her country is ready to host Iran’s first-round matches if necessary. She said, “Yes. Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, therefore we will wait to see what FIFA decides.”
The proposal comes after warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that the safety of Iranian players would be at risk if they traveled to the United States. FIFA President Gianni Infantino initially indicated that Trump had assured the Iranian team would still be welcome in the U.S., but Trump’s later comments triggered controversy and raised concerns about the team’s participation.
The team, commonly known as Team Melli, has been training abroad, including friendly matches in Türkiye, and continues preparations for the expanded 48-nation tournament.
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