Iran still set for FIFA World Cup despite tensions, says AFC

Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America remains on track despite geopolitical tensions, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirming that the team is still expected to take part in the global tournament.Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, AFC general secretary Windsor Paul John said there has been no official indication that Iran will withdraw from the competition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“As far as we know, Iran is playing,” Windsor said. “We are monitoring whether they are playing or not, but at the moment they are. There is no official information that they are not playing.”

His comments come after Donald Trump warned that Iran’s players could face risks if they travelled to the tournament amid ongoing tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, said the Iranian team would be welcome but suggested their “life and safety” might be at risk if they attended the event.Despite those concerns, the AFC maintained that the Iranian team remains an important part of the competition.

Windsor described the country as a “top team” in Asian football and expressed hope that the situation would stabilise in time for the tournament.“We hope they will solve their issues and be able to participate in the World Cup,” he added.The political tensions have also cast a shadow over Iran’s women’s football team, which recently competed in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia. Seven members of the Iranian delegation initially sought humanitarian visas after reportedly being branded “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.However, several of them have since reversed their decision. According to officials, multiple players and a support staff member have already left Australia, leaving only two members of the original group still planning to remain in the country.