The president of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has expressed uncertainty over the participation of the Iran national football team in this summer’s FIFA World Cup following ongoing military strikes that have plunged the country into crisis.
Speaking to Iranian sports outlet Varzesh3 on Sunday, Taj said recent developments have made it difficult for the country to focus on football preparations.
He noted that after the attacks, expectations for the national team to approach the tournament with optimism had significantly diminished.
The uncertainty follows continued airstrikes linked to a joint United States and Israeli military campaign, which reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, alongside several senior officials.
United States President Donald Trump said fighting in Iran could continue for several weeks, further raising concerns about the country’s political stability and its international sporting commitments.
Despite the situation, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the organisation remains focused on ensuring that all qualified teams participate safely in the tournament.
Grafström, speaking during a press briefing in Wales, stated that FIFA’s priority remains delivering a secure competition with full participation.
Diplomatic tensions have already complicated Iran’s World Cup preparations. Late last year, the U.S. State Department declined to approve some visa applications submitted by Iranian officials ahead of the tournament draw in Washington, prompting Tehran to threaten a boycott before FIFA intervened to resolve the dispute.
Travel restrictions imposed by Washington, including a ban affecting citizens from several countries such as Iran, are also expected to create challenges for Iranian supporters hoping to attend matches in the United States.
Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House World Cup task force, praised the military action while downplaying potential disruptions to the tournament.
Iran is scheduled to begin its World Cup campaign in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium before travelling to Seattle for a group-stage clash against Egypt.
