TEHRAN, Iran (AP) 鈥� Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers 鈥渉ostile,” Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of Tractor FC’s scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.
The ban announced by Iran鈥檚 Ministry of Sports in Tehran didn’t mention the World Cup which starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The ministry’s statement singled out the Tractor game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai that was set to be played in Saudi Arabia. It’s a playoff game in the .
鈥淭he presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice,鈥� it said.
The has impacted the region, with sustaining damage from missile hits, drone strikes or shrapnel.
Tractor’s playoff game in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football Confederation’s draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day after announcing that the that were because of the war in the Middle East have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah.
The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and final from April 16-25, with organizers setting the dates and hoping for peace in the region.
The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs 鈥渨ill be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games.鈥�
Iran’s stance on the World Cup
The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran鈥檚 three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump the team from attending the , citing safety concerns.
Last week, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iran鈥檚 attempts to move its World Cup matches, saying global soccer鈥檚 governing body wants the tournament 鈥渢o go ahead as scheduled.鈥�
Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the but that it is not possible for the national team to come to the U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb. 28.
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