The head of Iran’s football federation is worried that the national team might not play in the World Cup matches hosted in the U.S. He said recent military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel have made it unclear if the team will be able to participate.“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment.
Iran is in Group G at the World Cup and is set to play New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.The tournament is being hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.Iranian fans were already banned from entering the U.S. under an earlier travel ban from the Trump administration.FIFA has not yet responded to questions about whether Iran will be able to take part in the World Cup. The United States and Israel carried out a second day of military attacks on Iran this Sunday. This follows the death of Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which has left the country’s future uncertain and created a high risk of more fighting across the entire Middle East
