{"id":282416,"date":"2026-04-23T18:43:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/282416\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T18:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:43:13","slug":"iran-says-mens-team-is-preparing-for-proud-participation-at-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/282416\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran says men’s team is preparing for proud participation at World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) \u2014 An Iranian government spokesperson says the men\u2019s national team<\/a> is preparing for \u201cproud and successful participation\u201d in its World Cup games in the United States.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s ability and willingness to go to the World Cup<\/a> across north America starting June 11 has been unclear since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks Feb. 28.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., by the order of the minister,\u201d Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told Iran\u2019s state TV on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

FIFA<\/a> has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion<\/a> of playing the team\u2019s games in Mexico.<\/p>\n

Progress was made March 31 when FIFA President Gianni Infantino went to meet Iranian soccer leaders and players in Turkey where the team had two warmup games.<\/a><\/p>\n

Though the Iranian soccer league has shut down during the war, the team\u2019s official Instagram account posted photos this week<\/a> of a practice in Tehran.<\/p>\n

Mohejerani added Wednesday \u201cthe necessary arrangements that these dear ones need for the team\u2019s proud and successful participation, (have been made).\u201d<\/p>\n

Infantino promised the Iranian team three weeks ago he would help find a training camp outside of the country for the team to prepare for the World Cup. That could also be in Turkey, where Iran played warmup games last month in Antalya against Nigeria and Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

FIFA did not immediately confirm details Wednesday of a possible camp being organized.<\/p>\n

Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games at the Los Angeles Rams\u2019 stadium in Inglewood \u2014 against New Zealand and Belgium \u2014 then face Egypt in Seattle.<\/p>\n

The team is due to arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona no later than June 10, which is at least five days before its first game as required by FIFA\u2019s World Cup rules.<\/p>\n

A key issue to be resolved is the U.S. government giving entry visas to the Iranian delegation including soccer federation president Mehdi Taj. He is a vice president of the Asian soccer body who was barred from attending the World Cup draw in December in Washington D.C., where Infantino presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the specially created FIFA Peace Prize. <\/a><\/p>\n

Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the 48-nation tournament that runs through July 19.<\/p>\n

AP World Cup coverage: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>\n

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