Iran Bans Sports Teams from Traveling to Hostile Countries

JAKARTA - Iranian government television has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries considered hostile. The report was broadcast on Thursday, March 26, 2026, local time, ahead of a scheduled Traktor Sazi FC soccer match in Saudi Arabia.

The ban announced by the Iranian Ministry of Sports in Tehran did not mention the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11, 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The ministry's statement specifically mentioned Traktor's match against Shabab Al Ahli from Dubai which is scheduled to be played in Saudi Arabia on April 14, 2026 in the 16th round of the Asian Elite Champions League.

"The presence of the Iranian National Team (National Team) and clubs in countries considered hostile and unable to guarantee the safety of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice," he said.

The Iran war has impacted the region, with almost every country in the Middle East suffering damage from missile strikes, drone attacks, or shrapnel.

Traktor's match in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) draw on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to determine the quarter-final tickets, a day after the announcement that the Western Zone's 16-team round, which was postponed due to the war in the Middle East, had been rescheduled for April 13-14, 2026 in Jeddah.

The city in Saudi Arabia is also scheduled to host the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of the tournament from April 16-25, 2026, with organizers setting dates and hoping for peace in the region.

The Iranian Ministry of Sports added that the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) and the club would be responsible for informing the AFC) of this matter to move the match.

Iran's ambassador to Mexico City said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move three Iran national team group stage matches from the United States (US) to Mexico after US President Donald Trump did not advise the team to attend the 2026 World Cup on security grounds.

However, last week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iran's efforts to move the 2026 World Cup matches, saying that his party wanted the tournament to take place according to schedule.

The Iranian government and FFIRI officials stated that they did not want to boycott the 2026 World Cup, but the Iranian national team is unlikely to come to the US due to the military attacks against the country by Israel and the US since February 28, 2026.