Iran to wait for Fifa response on venue switch before making decision on World Cup
Country’s football body has been pushing to move team’s group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing ongoing war in region
Iran’s government will decide whether the national team will play in the World Cup only once they receive a response from Fifa over the relocation of their matches, the country’s Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali has said.
Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) has been pushing to move the team’s three World Cup group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing American military involvement alongside Israel in strikes that sparked an ongoing war in the region.
Last month, the federation said it was in discussions with Fifa about a venue switch, while Iran’s sports ministry has banned national and club sports teams from travelling to countries it considers hostile until further notice.
However, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said last week that Iran would play their matches as scheduled.
“Our request to Fifa to relocate Iran’s games from the US to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response,” Donyamali told Turkish state news agency Anadolu in an interview published at the weekend.
“If accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain. However, Fifa has not yet responded.