Iran bans teams from ‘hostile’ countries as World Cup uncertainty grows

TEHRAN: Iran has barred its national and club teams from travelling to countries it deems “hostile,” raising fresh uncertainty ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

According to Iranian state media, the Ministry of Sports announced that teams will not be allowed to compete in countries unable to guarantee the safety of Iranian athletes “until further notice.” The directive specifically pointed to an upcoming football playoff scheduled in Saudi Arabia next month.

While the ban does not explicitly mention the World Cup — set to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico — it has cast doubt over Iran’s participation, particularly in matches scheduled on US soil.

Iran have already secured qualification and are placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, with two matches slated for Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Iranian officials are reportedly pushing to shift their U.S.-based fixtures to Mexico, citing security concerns amid ongoing regional tensions.

Adding to the uncertainty, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier questioned Iran’s participation in the tournament, saying it may not be appropriate “for their own life and safety.”

Meanwhile, FIFA is closely monitoring the situation as the tournament approaches. Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the governing body is in contact with host nations and will continue to assess developments.

“We will monitor developments… it is premature to comment in detail,” Grafström said, while expressing confidence that safety arrangements will be ensured.

With tensions spilling into the sporting arena, Iran’s World Cup campaign now faces growing questions over logistics, security and venue arrangements just months before kickoff.