"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope, Mehdi Taj said to the sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment."
"Iran have been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and are scheduled to play in Los Angeles where they face New Zealand and Belgium on 15 and 21 June respectively before they play Egypt in Seattle on 26 June."
"The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice."
Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj stated uncertainty about whether the national team can compete in World Cup matches scheduled in the United States following military strikes between the US, Israel, and Iran. Iran is drawn in Group G and scheduled to play matches in Los Angeles and Seattle in June 2026. The escalating conflict has created significant concerns about participation and fan attendance, particularly given existing travel restrictions on Iranian citizens to the US. Additionally, sporting events in the Middle East region are being disrupted due to security concerns, with England's cricket team cancelling matches in Abu Dhabi and delaying women's team travel to the region.
#world-cup-2026 #iran-us-israel-conflict #sports-disruption #international-security #football-participation
Read at www.theguardian.com
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