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Iran bans sports teams from travelling to countries it deems 'hostile'

Iran has banned ⁠national and club sports teams ‌from travelling to countries ‌it considers hostile ‌until further notice, ‌Iranian media reported on ‌Thursday, citing the Sports Ministry, ‌which said the ⁠move ‌was due to concerns ​over the safety of ​Iranian athletes.

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Fulham defender Calvin Bassey withdraws from Nigeria squad after picking up injury

Fulham star Calvin Bassey has been forced to pull out of the Nigeria squad ahead of their upcoming games against Iran and Jordan due to an injury.

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All Whites willing to play Iran outside USA

New Zealand soccer players have said they would be willing to play Iran outside the United States in their ⁠opening match at the 2026 World Cup, as uncertainty persists over the fixture amid geopolitical tensions.

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Iran star striker Sardar Azmoun left out of squad after expulsion reports

undefined Striker Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the Iran squad ⁠announced for two World Cup warm-ups after Iranian media reports that he had been ‌expelled from the national team for a perceived act of ‌disloyalty to the government.

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Head of Iranian football says nation will go to World Cup but won't play matches in USA

The Iranian national team are continuing to prepare for the World Cup finals and have no intention of pulling out ⁠of the tournament even if they will not travel to the United States, football chief Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday.

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Asylum dramas over as Iranian women's team arrive home

The Iranian women's soccer team crossed the Turkish ⁠border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a fraught return journey from Australia, after five members withdrew asylum ‌claims they had lodged there.

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Osimhen and Nwabali left out of Nigeria squad for Iran and Jordan friendlies

Coach Eric Chelle has announced his 23-man Nigeria squad for this month’s four nations tournament with Victor Osimhen and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili not making the cut.

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Iran in talks with FIFA to move World Cup games from USA to Mexico

Iran's football federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches to Mexico from the United States due ⁠to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.

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Iran footballers train with Brisbane Roar after attaining asylum in Australia

Two Iranian women footballers have trained with the Australian club Brisbane Roar after seeking asylum in the country, with one of them uploading a picture alongside a senior FIFA official saying: "Everything will be fine."

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Fifth member of Iran women's soccer team withdraws asylum claim

A fifth member of the Iranian women's soccer team has withdrawn her claim for asylum ⁠in Australia, Australian media reported on Monday, and will be rejoining the rest of the squad in Malaysia.

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AFC says no signs of Iran withdrawing from World Cup

The Asian Football Confederation said on Monday ⁠it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national ‌soccer team from the World Cup.

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Nigeria’s March invitational tournament with Jordan and Iran moved to new venue

The Jordan Football Association (JFA) has announced Turkey as the new venue for this month’s four-nation invitational tournament involving Nigeria, Iran and Costa Rica.

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Three Iranian players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia

Three members of the Iranian ⁠women's soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have ‌decided to return to Iran, the government ‌said on Sunday.

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Donald Trump says Iran are welcome to participate at World Cup but warns it isn't safe

US President Donald Trump ⁠said on Thursday the Iranian men's national soccer ‌team was welcome to participate in ‌the 2026 World Cup ‌but said he believed ‌it was not appropriate that ‌they be there "for their own life and safety."

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Iran's threat to withdraw from the World Cup leaves FIFA to consider options

The statement from Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali on Wednesday that Iran could not take part in a World Cup being co-hosted by the United States offered the clearest ⁠indication yet of the potential for a first withdrawal from global soccer's showpiece event in the modern era.

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Former Afghan captain Popal calls for more support for athletes seeking asylum

The former captain and founding member of Afghanistan's women's football team, Khalida Popal, has praised the courage ⁠of Iranian women footballers who sought asylum in Australia, while calling on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to do more to protect female athletes facing ‌persecution.

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Iranian sports minister says nation cannot participate in 2026 World Cup

Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup ⁠after co-hosts, the United States, launched airstrikes against the country alongside Israel, killing ‌its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali ‌said on Wednesday.

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Infantino admits Trump said Iran are 'welcome to compete' at World Cup despite war

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is "welcome" to participate at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said Wednesday.

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Six Iranian footballers granted visas after one rescinds acceptance

Australia on Wednesday ⁠granted humanitarian visas to two more members of the Iranian women's soccer team who decided to stay in the ‌country due to fears for their safety if they returned home.

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Australia offers further asylum after granting five Iranian footballers visas

Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women's soccer team players after they sought asylum fearing persecution in their home nation.

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Graham Arnold calls for Iraq's World Cup playoff to be postponed

Iraq coach Graham Arnold pleaded with FIFA on Monday to postpone his team's intercontinental playoff for the World Cup because many of his players and backroom staff are stranded by the growing Iran war.

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FIFPRO concerned over safety of Iran women's football team after Asian Cup exit

Global players' union FIFPRO said on Monday there were serious concerns for the welfare of the Iranian ⁠women's football team, as they prepared to return home after being labelled "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing their national anthem before an Asian Cup match.

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Australia snatch 3-3 draw but South Korea top group as Iran exit winless

Australia's Alanna Kennedy scored her second goal deep into stoppage time to rescue a 3-3 ⁠draw against South Korea in the Women's Asian Cup on Sunday, but it was not enough to prevent their opponents from topping Group ‌A.

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Iran players labelled 'wartime traitors' after refusal to sing anthem in Asian Cup opener

An Iranian state television presenter has labelled the women's national football ⁠team as "wartime traitors" after the players did not sing their national anthem before their Asian ‌Cup opener against South Korea in Australia earlier this week.