Overview
- Iran’s Sports Ministry announced Thursday that national and club teams are barred from traveling to countries it deems hostile until further notice, without naming which countries are covered.
- The directive singled out Tractor FC’s Asian Champions League playoff set for Saudi Arabia and told Iran’s federation and clubs to ask the Asian Football Confederation to move affected matches, with reports noting Shabab Al Ahli could advance if Tractor forfeits.
- Iran’s football leadership has discussed moving its World Cup group games from the United States to Mexico, while FIFA says it expects all teams to play as scheduled and has not received a formal withdrawal from Iran.
- U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran would be welcome but warned it might not be safe, while White House World Cup task force chief Andrew Giuliani said he expects Iran to come and pledged robust security planning.
- Weeks of regional strikes and travel limits have already pushed the AFC’s West Asia playoffs and finals into a Jeddah hub, and some outlets note FIFA can replace a withdrawing team at its discretion, though that late step would be complex and no such move is underway.