\u2018Outside of politics\u2019<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s participation in the global tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico had been thrown into doubt by the conflict launched by Israel and the US against Iran on February 28 in a bid to destabilize the regime and destroy its nuclear and ballistic missile capacities.<\/p>\n
\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AFP__20250610__49UT6F4__v1__HighRes__FblWc2026AsiaQualifiersIriPrk-1-640x400.jpg\")
\n\t\tIran\u2019s players pose for a team picture ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A football match between Iran and North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025. (ATTA KENARE \/ AFP)<\/p>\n
Iran raised the prospect of a \u201cboycott\u201d of the competition before asking FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico, a request the world governing body rejected.<\/p>\n
After over a month of airstrikes on Iran and Iranian attacks against Israel and other countries in the region, a two-week ceasefire came into effect on April 8, which Israel has also complied with. Jerusalem was not represented at talks held in Pakistan over the weekend that aimed to resolve the conflict but failed to reach a deal.<\/p>\n
The US-Israeli war with Iran has resulted in the largest-ever disruption of global oil and gas supplies due to Iran\u2019s interruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20 percent of the world\u2019s oil and liquefied natural gas \u200bflows.<\/p>\n
\u201cSports should be outside of politics,\u201d Infantino said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s nobody else that believes in building bridges and keeping them intact and together, we are doing the job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, will be held June 11-July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n
Last month, the Iranian women\u2019s soccer team left Malaysia for Oman, ending days of uncertainty after five of the seven squad members sparked a diplomatic furor by seeking asylum in Australia, then reversed their decisions and rejoined the team in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Asked if the Asian Football Confederation is satisfied that the women will be safe back in Iran, General Secretary Windsor John said the AFC and FIFA will check up on them regularly with the Iranian federation \u201cas they are our girls as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
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