Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Association, has officially confirmed that the Iranian national football team will prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted in North America. In an interview with local media, Taj stated, 'We will prepare for the World Cup. We are boycotting the United States, not the World Cup.' This statement comes after concerns were raised by Iran's Minister of Sport and Youth, Ahmad Donyamalik, regarding the implications of competing in a tournament hosted partly by the U.S. amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations. The World Cup is scheduled to take place in June 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is placed in Group G and is set to play its group stage matches in the U.S. Against this backdrop, Taj has mentioned an ongoing discussion with FIFA about potentially hosting Iran’s matches in Mexico instead, emphasizing that the team's safety is a priority. Taj underscored the position taken by U.S. President Trump, who allegedly indicated that the Iranian team would not be safe traveling to the U.S. for the tournament. Despite these challenges, FIFA has maintained its stance that all participating nations are expected to adhere to the established schedule and play matches in designated locations. Taj iterated that while Iran intends to participate in the World Cup, the country will not be competing in the U.S., further clarifying that the target of the boycott remains the U.S. rather than the World Cup itself.