The Iran Football Federation has stated that preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will continue despite uncertainty over playing matches in the United States.
Federation president Mehdi Taj said the team remains focused on its build-up to the tournament but is considering avoiding travel to the U.S. due to ongoing political tensions.
He clarified that Iran does not intend to boycott the World Cup entirely, but may refuse to play matches scheduled to take place on American soil.
Iran is currently set to play its group-stage fixtures in U.S. cities, including games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, as well as a match against Egypt in Seattle.
Amid the situation, Iranian football authorities are reportedly in discussions with FIFA about the possibility of relocating their matches to Mexico.
However, FIFA has maintained that there has been no official change to the tournament schedule.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in June, with matches hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
