TEHRAN (Kashmir English): Iran are continuing World Cup preparations but will not play in the US, according to the president of Iran’s soccer federation.
Mehdi Taj said his country would “boycott the United States, but not the World Cup” as it continues talks with the world governing body to relocate its group stage matches from the US to Mexico.
Speaking to Iran’s Fars news agency, Mehdi Taj drew the distinction while in response to President Donald Trump’s warning that Iran should skip the World Cup “for their own life and safety.”
Taj affirmed Iran intends to compete despite being in war against the US and Israel, which broke out in February. The US and Israel targeted Iran with airstrikes that killed the longtime supreme leader Ali Khameini in the initial phase.
In the meanwhile, the Iranian national team are continuing to prepare for the World Cup finals with no intention of pulling out of the tournament even if they will not travel to the United States, said soccer chief Mehdi Taj.
Iran were among the first nations to qualify for FIFA World Cup
Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the finals but their participation has been in doubt since the Middle East conflict began in late February.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being staged in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Team Melli (meaning “National Team” in Persian) are scheduled to play all three of their opening-round group matches in the US but Taj said on Monday the Iranian FA (FFIRI) was negotiating with FIFA to have them moved to Mexico.
The team will play New Zealand on June 15/16 at SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles); against Belgium on June 21/22 at SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles) and against Egypt on June 26/27 at Lumen Field Seattle, WA. The national team is currently holding a training camp in Turkey.
