Iran soccer chief: We'll boycott U.S., but not the World Cup - ESPN

Iran will «boycott the United States, but not the World Cup,» the president of the country's football federation said Wednesday, in quotes reported by Iran's Fars news agency.

Iran's participation at the finals, which are being co-hosted this summer by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, has been cast into doubt after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on the country at the end of February.

Iran are due to play all three of their group matches in the U.S., but the country's football federation chief, Mehdi Taj, said Wednesday: «We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States, but we will not boycott the World Cup.»

That followed on from quotes attributed to Taj posted on the X account of the Iranian embassy in Mexico on Tuesday, in which he said they were «negotiating» with FIFA to move Iran's matches to Mexico.

«When [President Donald] Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,» the statement said. «We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico.»

In a statement on Tuesday, FIFA said it is «in regular contact with all participating member associations, including [the Islamic Republic of] Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on Dec. 6, 2025.»

FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly addressed the Middle East conflict for the first time following the conclusion of a FIFA council meeting Thursday.

«FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the FIFA World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect.

»We have a schedule,"