Iran confirms proud participation in the Cup, despite conflict with the US | OneFootball

Iran’s men’s national football team is preparing for a “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup matches in the United States in the middle of the year, as confirmed by the Iranian government itself.

The team’s ability and willingness to travel to North America for the tournament, which begins on June 11, had been called into question after military attacks launched by the US and Israel on February 28.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told state TV that the country is nevertheless ready for the competition.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced the full preparedness of our national football team for participation in the 2026 World Cup in the US, by order of the minister.” Mohejerani added that “the necessary preparations that these dear [players] need for the team’s proud and successful participation have been completed.”

Fifa, for its part, has consistently maintained that Iran will follow the World Cup schedule set last December, rejecting suggestions to move the team’s matches to Mexico.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has always maintained that Iran would play in the World Cup. An important development took place on March 31, when Infantino met with Iranian officials and players in Turkey, where the national team had been playing warm-up friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica.

Although the Iranian football league was suspended because of the conflict, the national team’s official Instagram account recently posted images of a training session in Tehran.

Football’s governing body had committed to helping find an overseas training center for the team (possibly in Turkey itself), but Fifa has not yet confirmed the official details of that setup.

Iran has two group-stage matches scheduled at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood, against New Zealand and Belgium, before traveling to Seattle to face Egypt.

The delegation is expected to arrive at its training base in Tucson, Arizona, by June 10, complying with Fifa’s requirement to arrive in the host country at least five days before its opening match.

However, one significant obstacle still needs to be overcome: the issuing of entry visas by the US government for the Iranian delegation.

This includes clearance for Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian football federation and vice president of the Asian confederation.

In December, Taj was denied a visa and was prevented from attending the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., an event at which Infantino presented the “Fifa Peace Award” to US President Donald Trump.

The tournament, which will feature 48 national teams and is co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, is set to conclude with the final on July 19.

Trump reportedly suggested a ‘swap’

A Donald Trump envoy asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the next World Cup, according to information published by the Financial Times on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The two had fallen out amid the US president’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran, the British newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

“I confirm that I suggested to Trump and [Fifa president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am a native-born Italian, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurra in a tournament hosted in the US. With four titles, they have the tradition to justify inclusion,” US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times.

The White House, Fifa, the Italian Football Federation, and Iran’s football federation did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time after losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final of the qualifying playoff.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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