The president of Iran’s football federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise US 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.
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The US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day 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 16 and 22, respectively – before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
The United States is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the US 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.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including new footage of major Iran strike, and a massive police sting in Christchurch. (Source: Breakfast)
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