Iran assures that there is a solution that allows its team to compete in the , one of the three organizing countries of the largest event in this sport on an international scale, along with Canada and Mexico. Precisely, this last country is the option that the Iranian Football Federation has put on the table.
From the Iranian sports organization they have indicated that “we are negotiating with FIFA so that Iran’s matches in the World Cup are played in Mexico”, as stated in a -formerly Twitter- account of the Iranian Embassy in Mexico.
In this message, they echo the words of the president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, who recently recalled. Taj has referred to Trump’s words, who “has clearly stated that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian team”, an issue that led to the decision that the Iranian team “will not travel to the US.”
Which countries would the Iranian team’s request affect?
In his ‘welcome message’ Trump stated: “The Iranian national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety.” He used his favorite channel, his own network, Truth Social, to make this comment.
But it is also worth noting that, later, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, stressed that Trump himself had personally confirmed to him that the players from that country, on which the United States and Israel have declared war unilaterally and in contravention of international law, were welcome in the competition and in one of its headquarters on American territory. It was not revealed whether in that case, being welcomed is “appropriate” for “their own life and safety.”
However, if the negotiations between Iran and FIFA to achieve a change of the matches to Mexican soil are successful, this change would also affect other national teams and their fans. The World Cup to be held between June 11 and July 19 will pit Iran against Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. That group stage is scheduled to be played entirely in the US.
