03/01/26 01:12:00
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03/01 13:04 CST President of Iran's soccer federation says World Cup
participation in US is in doubt
President of Iran's soccer federation says World Cup participation in US is in
doubt
By The Associated Press
The president of Iran's soccer federation says he does not know if the national
team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise
U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country.
"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look
forward to the World Cup with hope," Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as
Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the
bombardment.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the
killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of
the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional
instability.
Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los
Angeles -- where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21,
respectively -- before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The United States is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June
11-July 19.
Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the U.S. in the first
iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
FIFA did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press over the
current situation regarding Iran's participation in the World Cup.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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