A year out from kick-off, Iranian football fans are watching their World Cup dream slip away. A US travel ban barred them from entering the land of “Great Satan” to cheer on their team.

The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, most matches, including the final, are scheduled to be played on American soil.

Many in Iran had clung to hopes of cheering from the stands until Wednesday. On that day, US President Donald Trump rolled out a new travel ban. It affects 12 countries, including Iran, and will take effect from Monday.

“My friends and I have been waiting for years to watch Team Melli (a nickname for the national team) play in a World Cup on US soil. When they qualified, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Sohrab Naderi, a real estate agent in Tehran, told AFP.

“Now with the new travel ban, that dream is shattered. It’s because of politics that we don’t care about. We have no control over it. The speaker, a 46-year-old, attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. During the event, the US side defeated Iran 1-0 in the group stage.”

The prospect of Iran competing in a US-hosted tournament comes against the backdrop of a decades-long enmity, with diplomatic ties broken since the 1979 revolution.

The two sides are currently engaged in high-stakes talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, with the United States threatening military action if no deal can be reached.

‘Degrading to all Iranians’

Trump said the new travel ban was prompted by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on a man they said was in the country illegally.

The ban will not apply to athletes competing in either the 2026 World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the order said.

Nonetheless, supporters who had dreamed of crossing the Atlantic to cheer on their team will no longer be able to make the trip.

“Every Iranian has the right to support their team, just as much as any other country, whether the game is in America or in any other country,” said Hasti Teymourpour, a 16-year-old football fan.

Since his return to office in January, Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions against Iran and vowed that “something bad” would happen unless the Iranians “move quickly” towards a nuclear deal.

Naderi, who called the ban “inhumane” and “degrading to all Iranians”, still hopes the Iran-US nuclear talks will yield a deal that might persuade Trump to reconsider.

The outcome of the US-Iran talks that began in April remains unclear, and many fans worry that even if they result in a deal, it may be too late for them.

Some Iranians have refused to give up hope, however, seeing in the World Cup an opportunity to thaw relations.

“Sports diplomacy can act as a strong catalyst and bring the efforts of political diplomats to fruition sooner,” said political commentator Mohammad Reza Manafi.

It could be “a great opportunity to help advance diplomacy between the two countries”.

Friendly?

In a memorable 1998 World Cup clash, Iranian players handed flowers to their American adversaries and posed together for photos — a rare public gesture of goodwill between the nations.

Iran won 2–1, a victory celebrated in Tehran as a source of both sporting and political pride.

With the 2026 draw expected in December, it remains unclear whether Iran and the United States will face off again, but anticipation is building.

“The two countries are not hostile to each other, this political discussion is for the governments,” said 44-year-old day labourer Siamak Kalantari.

Another fan, Mahdieh Olfati, said: “If we face the US again, we’ll definitely win.”

“Ours are real players,” the 18-year-old added.

Manafi, the commentator, said a friendly before the tournament, possibly hosted by a third country, could help ease tensions.

Such a game, he said, could help “achieve what politicians from both sides have not managed to do for years”.

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Carlo Ancelotti got off to a disappointing start as Brazil coach in Thursday’s South American World Cup qualifiers, drawing 0-0 against runners-up Ecuador, putting the Italian manager under considerable pressure.

Brazil were unable to break down Ecuador’s organised defence and had few chances in the first half, the clearest coming from a Vinicius Jr attempt assisted by Gerson that was saved by goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle.

Ecuador threatened in the second half when John Yeboah attempted a through ball, but striker Nilson Angulo was caught offside.

Ancelotti’s side created more chances, but failed to capitalise, with Richarlison squandering a well-placed pass from Vinicius Jr in the box and Casemiro’s powerful long-range shot being saved by Valle.

“Of course we always have to improve, but little by little we’re getting better. It’s only been two or three days with a new coach. The dynamic is good, the atmosphere is good. I’m very happy to be back. The atmosphere is excellent,” Casemiro said after the match.

“Ancelotti hasn’t had time to show us his game plan yet. It’s only been two or three days of training,” Vinicius added.

Brazil remain in fourth place with 22 points. Ancelotti was appointed as the new coach only last month, tasked with pulling the team back from a difficult period — a challenging mission as they seek to become six-time world champions.

Their next opponents are third-placed Paraguay, who won 2–0 against Uruguay earlier.

Meanwhile, Ecuador are closer to qualifying, remaining in second place with 24 points. The top six teams qualify directly for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. They play ninth-placed Peru on Tuesday.

-Reuters

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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday he had yet to decide whether captain Lionel Messi would start in their next World Cup qualifier against Chile, as he continues to closely monitor the 37-year-old’s fitness.

With their place at the 2026 World Cup already secured, Argentina, who lead the South American qualifying standings, travel to face bottom-placed Chile on Thursday without several regulars and with Messi’s role uncertain.

“We’ve been in contact (with Messi) recently. We haven’t decided yet whether he’ll play from the start or not. It would be good to know how he’s feeling physically,” Scaloni told reporters.

“It’s clear that today we’re in a position to try other things. In principle, he’s available to play, and we’ll decide later.”

With a number of key players sidelined by injury or suspension, Scaloni called it a chance to test new talent ahead of their World Cup title defence next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“We’re going to have a lot of players out. If some of the guys we call up are fit and ready to play, they’ll get their chance,” he said.

“I don’t have the starting eleven confirmed yet, but we will give some playing time to players who haven’t played much and who we believe are ready to play.

“Although the result is always important, we don’t think it’s crucial today. We’ll probably try to help these players settle in and give them the chance to get some playing time with the team.”

The 47-year-old coach stressed that Argentina’s mentality remains unchanged and delivering a strong performance is still the priority.

“We want to play, it’s good for us to see other players, even those who are playing well. A match is never inopportune,” Scaloni said.

“It’s not that we national teams play so much that we would say we don’t want to play this match. On the contrary. We think it’s a nice match to play, with its difficulties. We are in a good position.”

Scaloni also weighed in on Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment as Brazil coach, saying he believes the Italian will strengthen the five-time world champions.

“I think it’s great. We’re talking about one of the best coaches of recent times. He’s going to raise the profile of Brazil even more,” Scaloni added.

“I like his attitude, I like everything about him. I think he’s going to be good. At the end of the day, he enriches the game. He’s welcome here and I wish him all the best.”

-Reuters

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