The Iranian national football team has withdrawn its threat to boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will continue preparations for the finals, but remains firm on one condition — it will not travel to the United States, football chief Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday.
Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the World Cup tournament
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Iran were among the first teams to qualify for the tournament, scheduled between June 11 and July 19 across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. However, their participation has been clouded by escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and the United States since late February.
As part of their build-up, Iran will play two warm-up matches — against Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later in Antalya — in a four-nation invitational tournament in Turkey, which was shifted from Jordan due to the regional conflict.
“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey, and we will also play two friendly matches there,” Taj said while welcoming the women’s national team back into Iran after their return from Australia. “We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
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Iran are currently scheduled to play all three of their group-stage matches in the United States. However, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran has been in talks with FIFA to have those fixtures moved to Mexico.
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Iran are currently scheduled to play all three of their group-stage matches in the United States. However, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran has been in talks with FIFA to have those fixtures moved to Mexico.
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The request followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Iranian players would be allowed to compete in the United States, but raised concerns over whether it would be appropriate for their “life and safety.” While Trump later clarified that players would not be barred from entry, Taj cited the comments as grounds to push for a venue switch.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also indicated her country would be open to hosting Iran’s matches. However, FIFA swiftly dismissed the possibility of any change to the schedule.
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“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” the governing body said in a statement. “FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on December 6, 2025.”
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Sports/Football/Iran in World Cup limbo: won’t withdraw yet refuse US travel despite FIFA rejecting Mexico move request
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