The Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj announced on Wednesday that Iran will continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it is unclear whether the team will travel to the United States for its scheduled group-stage matches.
Speaking in a video shared by the Iranian news agency Fars, Taj said, “We will be preparing for the World Cup.
“We will boycott the United States but not the tournament.”
The decision comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran is currently scheduled to play all three of its group matches in U.S. cities against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle.
In response to the situation, the Iranian football federation is in discussions with FIFA about potentially relocating its matches to Mexico.
FIFA, however, has emphasized that the official tournament schedule remains unchanged.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.