World Cup — Iran bans national teams from travelling to ‘hostile countries’

In a new development, the Iranian Ministry of Sport has announced a ban on national teams and clubs travelling to countries classified by Tehran as “hostile”, until further notice, in a decision expected to cast a shadow over continental and international competitions, foremost among them the 2026 World Cup.

This measure comes against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East and growing concerns regarding the safety of Iranian athletes, opening the door to potential changes in match venues and presenting sports federations with unprecedented organisational challenges.

Security concerns drive the decision

The Ministry clarified, in a statement carried by local media, that the decision is based on the lack of “sufficient guarantees” to protect players and delegation members in certain countries, emphasising that Iranian teams will not be allowed to participate in any environment that could pose a security threat.

This approach reflects growing concern within Iranian sporting bodies, against the backdrop of recent political tensions that have cast a shadow over sporting activities abroad.

The decision has not remained purely theoretical, as the Iranian Football Federation and clubs have been required to notify the Asian Football Confederation to amend match venues.

The match between Iranian side Tractor and an Emirati team, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia, stands out as the first practical test of this decision, with the possibility of it being moved to a neutral venue.

However, the Ministry has not specified the list of countries covered by the ban, leaving room for broad interpretations that could affect several tournaments.

The 2026 World Cup under scrutiny

The decision coincides with the Iranian national team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup finals, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, casting doubt on Iran’s participation, particularly as its fixture list includes matches on US soil.

Recent political developments have further complicated the situation, with Donald Trump stating that the Iranian team’s participation is welcome in principle, but hinting at concerns regarding the safety of the delegation, which has sparked widespread controversy.

Meanwhile, Mehdi Taj revealed that consultations are underway with FIFA to explore relocating the Iranian national team’s matches to Mexico, as an alternative solution to ensure participation without risk.

For its part, FIFA has adopted a cautious stance, confirming that it remains in contact with the Iranian side, whilst insisting on holding the matches according to the current schedule.

Mexico offers to host

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, announced her country’s readiness to host the Iranian national team’s matches should an official decision to change venues be taken, stressing that the final say rests with FIFA.

In the absence of a clear list of “hostile” nations, Iran’s decision remains open to several scenarios, ranging from the relocation of individual matches in continental tournaments to the potential reallocation of matches for the 2026 World Cup.

Featured image via NBC News