New Zealand footballers willing to play Iran World Cup match outside US
Al Jazeera
The two nations are set to play their World Cup opener on June 15 in Los Angeles, but Iran has threatened to boycott its group matches due to the US-Israel war on their country.
New Zealand football players have said they would be willing to play Iran outside the United States in their opening match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as uncertainty persists over the fixture amid geopolitical tensions.
Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the finals, but their participation has been in doubt since the US-Israel war on Iran broke out at the end of February.
Team Melli are scheduled to play all three of their opening-round group matches in the US, with their June 15 opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles, but the Iranian Football Federation has threatened to boycott fixtures on US soil.
New Zealand are preparing as if the Los Angeles match will go ahead, but players said on Wednesday that they could accommodate a switch to outside of the US if necessary.
Netherlands-based midfielder Ryan Thomas said Iran had earned their spot at the World Cup, and the All Whites would be able to manage the extra attention generated by the match.
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