The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth announced on Friday that “the presence of national teams and clubs in countries considered hostile and unable to guarantee the safety of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice.” Amidst the conflict in the Middle East, the Iranian regime is imposing this ban on its athletes, and doubts are growing about the participation of the Iranian national team in the 2026 World Cup. To justify the measure, “reports of a clash between the Tractor team and a team from the United Arab Emirates in Saudi Arabia” were mentioned, where an AFC Elite League match was supposed to be played, as reported by Noticias Argentina agency via Newsweek Argentina. The decision once again raises questions about Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup, which will begin on June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, due to the war that started after US and Israeli attacks. Iran is part of Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, and its first-round matches are scheduled to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, US President Donald Trump issued a threat to the Iranian national team, stating that he does not consider it “appropriate” for them to travel to his country “for their own life and safety.” The Iranian Ministry of Sports informed weeks ago that “there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup.” Meanwhile, Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, said he is in negotiations with FIFA to move their matches to Mexico, although, for now, FIFA is trying to keep the match schedule unchanged.
