Iran Will Boycott US Matches but Remain in World Cup – Mehdi Taj

Iran will participate in the FIFA World Cup but refuse to play matches in the United States, according to Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj.

Taj was reportedly seen in a video released by the Iranian press agency Far News, making such a declaration after the Iranian Football Federation had opened talks with FIFA about potentially relocating the team’s matches from the US to Mexico.

However, the global governing body has maintained that the tournament’s schedule remains unchanged.

Iran’s participation in the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has been called into question since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the country last month, with Donald Trump saying that Iranian players’ safety would be jeopardised if they attended the tournament.

Iran is slated to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle. If Iran and the United States finish second in their respective groups, they will face off in the round of 32 in Dallas.

Team Melli is scheduled to play Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later in Antalya as part of a four-nation invitational tournament that had to be moved from Jordan due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Taj was quoted as saying by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday, “The national team is holding a training camp in Türkiye, and we will also play two friendly matches there.”

The former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mehdi Taj, was adamant about whether the Iranian football national team will fly to the United States of America.

Taj was emphatic, “We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”

Story by Atakorah (Pramaso)