Tehran (TDI): Iran has confirmed it will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but will not play matches hosted in the United States. The announcement, made by Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj, stops short of a full withdrawal from the tournament.
The cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and Iran is seeking to have its fixtures relocated from the US, citing obvious security concerns as both countries are engaged in military conflict since February 28.
Iran has already qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Under the current schedule, its group-stage matches are set to be played in American cities including Los Angeles and Seattle.
However, officials in Tehran have made clear they are unwilling to send the team to the US under present conditions. Iranian authorities argue that the safety of players, staff and supporters cannot be guaranteed if matches take place on US soil.
“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkiye, and we will also play two friendly matches there,” FFIRI President Taj was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency on Wednesday. “We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
Despite the boycott stance, Iran has emphasized it does not intend to withdraw entirely from the World Cup. Negotiations are ongoing with FIFA to move its matches to Mexico, with Mexican authorities indicating they would be open to hosting the fixtures if required.
FIFA has so far resisted altering the tournament schedule, pointing to logistical complexity of relocating matches just months before kickoff. Thousands of tickets have already been sold, and FIFA insists on maintaining the planned structure.
