Kamal Ghorui
Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said Iran will take part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup but intends to boycott the United States amid ongoing tensions.“We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup,” Taj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars News Agency on Wednesday, as cited by news agency AFP.Iran are currently scheduled to play their group-stage matches in the United States. However, the federation has started discussions with FIFA about the possibility of shifting those fixtures to another venue. FIFA has so far said that the tournament schedule remains unchanged.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that Mexico is ready to host Iran’s group matches if required. “Yes,” she said when asked about the possibility. “Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, therefore we will wait to see what FIFA decides.”Iran’s participation in the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has come under focus since the conflict in the Middle East began last month. US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that the safety of Iranian players could be at risk if they travelled to the United States.Gianni Infantino had initially said that assurances were received from Trump that the Iranian team would be allowed to participate. Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle.However, Trump later said that Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”, drawing strong reactions. Iran responded by stating that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.Iran had qualified for the tournament almost a year ago after topping their group, becoming the second Asian side after Japan to secure a place.The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently planned in Tucson, Arizona.Meanwhile, Abolfazl Pasandideh criticised “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation in a statement released on Monday.If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, it is not yet known which team would replace them.
