Iran's national football team pose for a group picture before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers. AFP
The ministry said the presence of Iranian national and club teams in countries deemed unable to guarantee the safety of athletes and officials is prohibited “until further notice,” according to state media reports on Thursday.
The decision specifically impacts Tractor FC’s Asian Champions League Elite playoff against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai, which had been scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia following a draw by the Asian Football Confederation earlier this week.
The continental body had announced that western zone playoffs, previously postponed due to regional tensions, would be held on 13–14 April in Jeddah.
Iran’s sports ministry instructed the Iranian football federation and clubs to coordinate with the AFC to change venues for affected matches.
The directive comes amid heightened regional instability, with the ongoing conflict involving Iran contributing to missile and drone exchanges across parts of the Middle East, affecting multiple countries.
Separately, Iran’s national team is scheduled to face Nigeria in a friendly match on Friday in Turkey.
Despite the travel ban, the Iranian Football Federation has reaffirmed its participation in the 2026 World Cup, stressing in a statement that the tournament is organised by FIFA and not by any single host nation.
“The World Cup is an international event organised by FIFA, not by any single country. Iran qualified on merit,” the federation said.
It added that no party has the authority to exclude the team from the tournament, arguing that any host country failing to ensure the safety of participants should instead face scrutiny.
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: