IRAN look set to defy Donald Trump and insist on their right to play in the World Cup.
The US President raised the stakes last week as the attacks on the Islamic republic’s regime continued.
Just two days after Fifa President Gianni Infantino trumpeted that Trump would not block Iran from taking part, the US leader took to social media to seemingly close the door.
Trump wrote: “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
That approach, though, appears to have backfired – after Iranian FA and government spokesman had previously suggested the team was likely to be withdrawn.
And now the head of the Asian Football Confederation has confirmed he has not been made away of any quit threat.
Speaking in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, Windsor John, the AFC’s general secretary, said: “It’s a very emotional moment. Everybody’s saying a lot of things.
At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup.
“They are our member, we want them to play.
“You know, they qualified … so we hope that they will solve their issues, whatever it is, and be able to participate.”
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Senior Fifa officials have dismissed suggestions that one solution would be to switch Iran’s games to co-hosts Mexico.
Iran were drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with their matches due to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle.
But that idea is understood not to have come from Fifa, with the full schedule of 104 matches settled and not able to be changed.
Withdrawal would leave Iran liable to a multi-million pounds fine from Fifa and a potential ban on the national team playing in any sanctioned competition.
Their withdrawal would leave Fifa with a dilemma over who should replace them, especially given the complexities of the situation in the Middle East.
Neighbours Iraq, who have qualified to meet Suriname or Bolivia in Mexico later this month in the Inter-Continental play-off, have asked for the game to be postponed as coach Graham Arnold fears for the safety of his players if they are expected to make a 25-hour coach journey to Turkey.
One option would be to allow Iraq to simply take Iran’s place, with the Suriname match against Bolivia elevated to a decider.
Alternatively, if the play-offs do take place and Iraq win, Fifa could promote the United Arab Emirates, the next-best Asian side.
World Cup play-off draw
THE draw for the European World Cup play-offs takes place on Thursday.
The group stages may have concluded but there are still four remaining spots for European sides to qualify for next summer’s tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- Nations are split into four pots.
- Qualifying group runner-ups go into pot one, two and three depending on their world ranking.
- Pot four is full of those involved via their Nations League victory.
- One team from each pot will be drawn into separate paths.
- The pot one team plays the pot four side in a one-legged semi-final, as pot two and three play each other, with the nation from the higher pot at home.
- The draw will determine the home side for the final.
- The ties will be played during the March international break.
WHO’S IN WHAT POT?
Pot 1 (home semi-final, home final)
Italy 9th
Denmark 20th
Turkey 26th
Ukraine 27th
Pot 2 (home semi-final)
Poland 33rd
Wales 34th
Czech Rep 44th
Slovakia 46th
Pot 3
Albania 61st
Ireland 62nd
Bosnia & Herzegovina 75th
Kosovo 84th
Pot 4 (Nations League)
Sweden 40th
Romania 47th
North Macedonia 65th
Northern Ireland 69th
