FIFA expects Iran to be a participant in this summer’s World Cup, even as the country’s request to move to change its group stage games appears to have been denied.
Iran’s participation in this year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada was in doubt once the Middle East conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran started in February.
Two weeks ago, Iran’s soccer federation requested that the country’s World Cup group state games be moved to Mexico, with federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran would “boycott the United States, but not the World Cup.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Univision on Monday that no schedule changes will be made.
“We want them to play; they are going to play in the World Cup,” Infantino told the Spanish-language network. “There are no Plans B or C or D; Plan A is the only plan.”
Iran was selected into Group G along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. The team is scheduled to face New Zealand at Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium at Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt at Seattle on June 26.
“We live in a complex geopolitical situation … but our work is to unite,” Infantino said. “We know it is a complicated situation, but we will work to be sure that Iran plays in this World Cup in the best conditions.”
Officials from Iran have expressed safety concerns for the team’s traveling party while in the United States. The alarm was heightened after United States President Donald Trump said of Iran’s team: “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Just last week, Iranian state television reported that Iran has banned the nation’s sports teams from traveling to “hostile” countries. The report singled out an upcoming game for an Iranian club team at Saudi Arabia but did not specifically mention the World Cup.
–Field Level Media
