Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said that Iran will participate in the future. FIFA World Cup But the US plans to boycott amid ongoing tensions.“We will prepare for the World Cup. We will boycott America but not the World Cup,” Taj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars News Agency on Wednesday.Iran is currently scheduled to play its group stage matches in the United States. However, the federation has started discussions with FIFA about the possibility of moving these fixtures to another venue. FIFA has so far said that no changes have been made to the tournament schedule.Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum said on Tuesday that Mexico is ready to host Iran’s group matches if needed. “Yes,” he said when asked about the possibility. “Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, so we will wait to see what FIFA decides.”Iran’s participation in the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has been the focus of attention since the conflict erupted in the Middle East last month. US President Donald Trump had previously warned that the safety of Iranian athletes could be at risk if they travel to the US.Gianni Infantino initially said he had received assurances from Trump that the Iranian team would be allowed to participate. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.However, Trump later said that Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own lives and safety”, prompting Iran to respond by saying that “no one can take Iran’s national team out of the World Cup”.Iran qualified for the tournament almost a year ago after topping their group, becoming the second Asian team to qualify after Japan.The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently planned in Tucson, Arizona.Meanwhile, Abulfazl Hashavat, in a statement released on Monday, criticized the “lack of cooperation of the US government in issuing visas and providing logistical support” to the Iranian delegation.If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, it is not yet known which team will replace them.
