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04/23 04:03 CDT Iran government says men's soccer team is preparing for 'proud
participation' at World Cup in US
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 New Zealand and Belgium --- then face Egypt 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 specially created FIFA Peace Prize.
Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the 48-nation tournament that runs through
July 19.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
