Iran to compete in World Cup as scheduled
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will compete in the World Cup with all fixtures taking place at American venues as originally planned, dismissing the nation’s request to relocate matches, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking to AFP during the interval of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, Infantino declared: “The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” His enthusiasm for Iran’s participation was evident as he stated: “Iran will be at the World Cup. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.” Iran recorded a commanding 5-0 victory in the friendly, with Infantino present throughout the match.
The Iranian football federation had earlier indicated it was in discussions with FIFA about shifting its World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico, citing the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her country’s readiness to accommodate Iran’s group stage matches should circumstances require it.
However, Infantino firmly rejected this alternative arrangement during his visit to Turkey. Uncertainty surrounding Iran’s tournament participation has persisted due to geopolitical tensions, but the FIFA president insisted that the original schedule remains intact despite these diplomatic complexities. Iran has been drawn in Group G and will face a demanding schedule across two American cities.
Their opening fixture is against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, four days after the tournament kicks off. Subsequently, Iran will remain in Los Angeles for their second match against Belgium on 21 June. Their final group stage encounter takes them to Seattle, where they will meet Egypt on 26 June. The tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Mahdi Mohammadnabi, vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, welcomed the decision and pledged to adhere to FIFA’s directives. “For us, what matters most are FIFA’s rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever FIFA decides,” he stated. On the importance of host commitments, Mohammadnabi added, “Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honour them.” He noted that Infantino made a detour to attend the friendly while travelling from Mexico to Qatar, indicating his support for the team.
As the World Cup approaches, the dynamics of competition and geopolitics entwine, posing unique challenges for teams like Iran and reaffirming the complexities of sport on the global stage. Yet, with each match, the possibility remains for narratives to shift, revealing how football often transcends the barriers built by politics.
