Iran and Infantino Discuss World Cup Amid Tensions Over US Visit

FIFA President Meets with Iranian Football Officials for First Time Since US-Israel Conflict

In a meeting held in Turkiye, FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Iranian football officials for the first time since the start of the US-Israel conflict on February 28. The meeting took place at the end of a tumultuous month for Iranian football.

According to reports from the Iranian Football Federation, the meeting resulted in genuine progress in football diplomacy. However, details of the discussion remain unclear, as no mention was made of moving World Cup games to Mexico, a topic that Infantino has repeatedly ruled out.

During the meeting, Infantino offered assistance to Iran’s national team to prepare for the upcoming World Cup tournament. The Iranian team is currently without most players due to the closure of the national league during the conflict.

The US and Israel launched their military action against Iran on February 28, casting doubt on the country’s ability to participate in the World Cup. However, FIFA has maintained that Iran will still compete in the tournament.

In a recent statement, Infantino reaffirmed that Iran would participate in the World Cup and that the schedule would not be changed. The Iranian delegation is scheduled to arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona on June 10 for the June 11-July 19 tournament.

The meeting with Infantino comes as the situation in Iran remains uncertain due to mixed messages from US officials regarding their intentions for the war. Despite speculation about boycotting the World Cup or moving games to Mexico, these plans appear to have faded.

Iran’s national team will face New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, marking its first game of the tournament. The team has been training in Antalya, Turkiye, where they played a warm-up match against Costa Rica earlier this week.

Source: Al Jazeera