"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope. Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment."
"The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability."
"Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los Angeles -- where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively -- before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26."
Iran's soccer federation president Mehdi Taj stated uncertainty about whether Iran's national team can participate in World Cup matches scheduled in the United States. This uncertainty follows U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which escalated regional tensions. Iran is scheduled to play matches in Los Angeles and Seattle in June 2026. The situation is complicated by existing travel restrictions on Iranian fans entering the United States. FIFA is monitoring developments but has not yet addressed Iran's participation status. The military escalation has created significant doubt about Iran's ability to compete with optimism.
Read at ESPN.com
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