Iranian sport minister ‘definitely opposed’ to World Cup participation
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali is “definitely opposed” to the country’s national football team taking part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup – starting June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada – though he said the Iranian government will have the final say on the matter.
His comments were the latest twist in the debate over Team Melli’s participation in the global showpiece amid Iran’s military conflict with the United States and Israel, which was triggered by airstrikes on Tehran on February 28 that assassinated the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and several military commanders.
Iran is set to kick off its Group G campaign against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 15, before facing European heavyweight Belgium at the same venue six days later. The team will then travel to Seattle, Washington, to face Egypt in its final group game at Lumen Field on June 26.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in the early stages of the ongoing war that he considers it not “appropriate” for Iranian players to visit his country “for their own life and safety,” though FIFA chief Gianni Infantino insisted last week that Iran will play “for sure” at the World Cup, arguing that “sports should be outside of politics.”
“How can we have a sense of honor and, like so many, just say, ‘Go ahead, play in the World Cup’? We cannot remain indifferent to these criminal events for the sake of football, sports, or the World Cup,” Donyamali said on Tuesday.
“Personally speaking, I am definitely opposed to Iran’s participation. If there were any sense of honor in international sports bodies, first, they would have stripped the United States of its World Cup hosting rights, and then they would have taken away the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics hosting rights.
“That’s what happened with another country which had its entire sport suspended from international events within days after carrying out an attack on another country. Is such a double standard acceptable?” Donyamali said, in an apparent reference to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
With the remainder of the Persian Gulf Pro League season postponed until the conclusion of Iran’s World Cup run, a national team training camp – featuring 30 domestic top-flight players – began on Monday in Tehran, as head coach Amir Ghalenoei is eager to ensure his players retain their form despite the lack of competitive football.
“Professionally, I have to do everything I can to make sure the team is prepared. That’s why all our efforts, as it stands, are focused on making the necessary preparations for the squad,” Donyamali said.
“If the government gives the green light, we will play in the World Cup, but if it says the conditions are not right, we will not go. This is an understanding we have reached with the chairman of the Football Federation and Mr. Qalenoei: if we are to go, the players must be ready. The Iranian people, however, should know that we are doing this with hearts full of blood, and are not blind to their pain.”