Tehran links World Cup decision to security guarantees in US

Iran’s national football team is continuing preparations for the FIFA World Cup, although a final decision on its participation will be taken by the government, the country’s sports minister has said.

“If the safety of the national team’s players in the United States is ensured, we will travel to the World Cup,” Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency.

“The decision will be made by the government and the Supreme National Security Council,” he added.

Iran’s team, known as Team Melli, is scheduled to play all of its World Cup matches in the United States, one of the three host countries alongside Canada and Mexico. However, its participation has been uncertain since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28.

The uncertainty persists as a fragile Pakistan-mediated ceasefire between Tehran and Washington approaches its deadline on April 22.

Donyamali reiterated that the national team will continue training despite geopolitical tensions.

“The national team may not go to the World Cup, but if we are going to participate, we must be ready,” he said.

Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) has requested FIFA to relocate its matches outside the United States, but the governing body has ruled out changes to the schedule, dismissing the option of moving games to Mexico due to logistical constraints.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday he was “confident” Iran would take part in the tournament, despite earlier remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting otherwise.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote in a social media post last month.

Infantino, who maintains a close relationship with Trump, insisted that “Iran has to come” to the tournament, adding that he hopes the situation will stabilise before the competition begins.

“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation,” he said. “As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Donyamali has repeatedly linked Iran’s participation to security guarantees for players amid the ongoing conflict. He said the FFIRI is preparing a training camp for the squad in case the government approves participation.

“We have to be ready, but maybe the decision is not to go, and if we are going to go, we have to be ready to have a strong presence,” he said.

“Our duty from a professional point of view is to carry out the work and preparation.”

He confirmed that Iran’s World Cup training camp is scheduled to begin on May 10 and will last for more than a week.

The Iranian squad recently played two international friendlies in Türkiye under tight security and limited media access.

Team Melli are set to open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Should they progress to the knockout stages, all remaining matches would also be played in the United States.

By Vafa Guliyeva