03/26/26 07:55:00
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03/26 19:51 CDT Iran forbids its sports teams from traveling to 'hostile'
countries
Iran forbids its sports teams from traveling to 'hostile' countries
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) --- Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to
countries it considers "hostile," Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of
Tractor FC's scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.
The ban announced by Iran's Ministry of Sports in Tehran didn't mention the
World Cup which starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The ministry's statement singled out the Tractor game against Shabab Al Ahli of
Dubai that was set to be played in Saudi Arabia. It's a playoff game in the
Asian Champions League Elite.
"The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered
hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team
members is prohibited until further notice," it said.
The Iran war has impacted the region, with nearly every country in the Middle
East sustaining damage from missile hits, drone strikes or shrapnel.
Tractor's playoff game in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football
Confederation's draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day
after announcing that the western zone playoffs that were postponed because of
the war in the Middle East have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah.
The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals
and final from April 16-25, with organizers setting the dates and hoping for
peace in the region.
The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs "will be
responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in
order to relocate the games."
Iran's stance on the World Cup
The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country was negotiating with
FIFA to move Iran's three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico
after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the
48-nation tournament, citing safety concerns.
Last week, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iran's
attempts to move its World Cup matches, saying global soccer's governing body
wants the tournament "to go ahead as scheduled."
Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott
the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to come to the
U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb.
28.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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