Common view as Draw Assistant Shaquille O’Neal attracts Iran through the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, John F Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US – December 5, 2025. — Reuters
The Iranian nationwide crew are persevering with to arrange for the World Cup finals and don’t have any intention of pulling out of the match even when they won’t journey to the US, soccer chief Mehdi Taj mentioned on Wednesday.
Iran have been one of many first nations to qualify for the finals however their participation has been doubtful because the battle between the Islamic Republic and the US started in late February.
The match runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being staged within the US, Mexico and Canada.
Crew Melli are scheduled to play all three of their opening-round group matches within the US however Taj mentioned on Monday the Iranian FA (FFIRI) was negotiating with Fifa to have them moved to Mexico.
Iran will play Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica 4 days later in Antalya as a part of a four-nation invitational match that needed to be moved from Jordan due to the battle within the Center East.
“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
Taj was talking on Wednesday as he welcomed the gamers from the ladies’s nationwide crew again to Iran on the border crossing from Turkey after their protracted journey from Australia.
All the delegation, who have been in Australia for the Girls’s Asian Cup, have been provided asylum by the host nation due to fears for his or her security in Iran. Whereas seven accepted, solely two ended up staying.
US President Donald Trump had urged Australia to supply the gamers asylum and later mentioned that whereas the Iranian males have been welcome to play within the US, it won’t be applicable for his or her “life and safety”.
Trump later harassed any risk to the gamers wouldn’t come from the US, however Taj — a former member of Iran’s hardline Revolutionary Guard — used the president’s assertion as grounds for demanding the venue change.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned on Tuesday that her nation could be open to internet hosting Iran’s World Cup matches towards New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in June, however the ultimate say on any venue change could be Fifa’s.
Soccer’s world governing physique mentioned it was involved with FFIRI however was “looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025”.
Beau Busch, the Asia-Pacific president of soccer gamers’ union FIFPRO, mentioned it was Fifa’s responsibility to make sure the protection of everybody concerned on the World Cup.
“Fifa have an institutional responsibility to protect human rights,” the Australian advised Reuters.
“What’s critical is that Fifa undertake a really comprehensive human rights impact assessment, and they assess to ensure that every single participant at the World Cup, every player, every fan, can be safe, and that any risks are identified and mitigated effectively.”
