Iran government says men's soccer team is preparing for 'proud participation' at World Cup in US

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — An Iranian government spokesperson says the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the United States. Iran’s ability and willingness to go to the World Cup across north America starting June 11 has been unclear since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks Feb. 28. “The 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,” Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told Iran’s state TV on Wednesday. FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion of playing the team’s games in Mexico. 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. Though the Iranian soccer league has shut down during the war, the team’s official Instagram account posted photos this week of a practice in Tehran. Mohejerani added Wednesday “the necessary arrangements that these dear ones need for the team’s proud and successful participation, (have been made).” 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. FIFA did not immediately confirm details Wednesday of a possible camp being organized. Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood — against and — then face in Seattle. 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’s World Cup rules. 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 Mexico and are co-hosting the 48-nation tournament that runs through July 19. \\_ AP World Cup coverage: