Iran’s World Cup participation depends on team’s safety in the US: Minister

Al Jazeera - Iran’s football team is preparing for the World Cup, but a final decision on its participation in the tournament will be taken by the government, the country’s sport minister says.

“If the safety of the national team’s players in the United States is ensured, we will travel to the World Cup,” Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency on Thursday.

“The decision will be made by the government and the Supreme National Security Council,” he added.

Team Melli are scheduled to play all their World Cup games in the US, one of the three host nations alongside Canada and Mexico. But their participation has been uncertain since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.