Iran’s Ban on Sports Teams Traveling to ‘Hostile’ Countries
According to reports from Iranian media, the Ministry of Sports has instituted a ban preventing the national and club sports teams from traveling to countries labeled as ‘hostile.’ This decision comes amidst growing concerns for the safety and security of Iranian athletes, and it will remain in effect until further notice.
The ministry has explicitly stated that “the presence of national and club teams in countries deemed hostile and incapable of securing the safety of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited.” In addition, it has mandated that the Iranian Football Federation and local clubs must inform the Asian Football Confederation regarding any necessary relocation of match venues.
One particular point raised in the ministry’s communication referenced Tractor FC, which was mentioned as having faced logistics issues while competing against a team from the United Arab Emirates in Saudi Arabia. However, the authorities did not specify which countries are considered hostile or which venues require adjustment.
As Iran embarks on its World Cup journey this year—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—the team’s participation is under scrutiny, especially following rising tensions between the Islamic Republic and both the U.S. and Israel, a situation that has escalated since late February. In light of these events, U.S. President Donald Trump commented recently that while he welcomes the Iranian national team to the U.S., their “life and safety” remains a concern.
In a related development, discussions are ongoing between the Iranian football federation and FIFA regarding the potential shift of their World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico, as confirmed by federation President Mehdi Taj. Currently, the Iranian national squad is in Turkey, preparing for friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica, scheduled for upcoming dates.
