TEHRAN (IRAN) (ITALPRESS) – Iran wants to play the World Cup, but not on US soil. This was reiterated by Mehdi Taj, president of the Tehran Football Federation. From the Bazargan border crossing, where he welcomed the women’s national team returning from Australia, Taj announced that the team is currently in training camp in Turkey and will play two friendlies ahead of the World Cup. “We boycott the United States, but we will not boycott the World Cup,” he said, as reported by the Iranian news agency Fars.
In recent days, Tehran had requested that FIFA move the Group G matches, where Iran will face Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, from Los Angeles and Seattle to Mexico. Previously, US President Donald Trump had admitted that “it would not be appropriate” for Iran to participate in the tournament, “for their own lives and safety.” FIFA, however, does not appear willing to grant Team Melli’s request, both due to logistical issues that would impact the other three national teams in the group and because the tickets for the matches have already been sold. Mexico, for its part, through its president Claudia Sheinbaum, has left the matter to FIFA, assuring that it would have no problem hosting Iran’s matches.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
