Iran FA chief speaks about World Cup after attacks

Berlin [Germany], March 2: Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj has given a bleak outlook regarding the World Cup in summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada the day after the US and Israel started air attacks against his country.
"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 on Sunday.
"The US regime has attacked our homeland, and this is an incident that will not go unanswered."
Iran has been drawn into Group G at the World Cup with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. They will play their three matches in the US.
The governing body FIFA said it is monitoring the situation. Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House World Cup task force, said on X on Saturday: "We'll deal with soccer games tomorrow-tonight, we celebrate their opportunity for freedom."
Team preparations for the World Cup will be hampered because no matches will be played during a 40-day mourning period for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the attacks on Saturday.
This will affect league matches and planned World Cup tune-ups.
Iran is among several countries whose citizens cannot enter the US but US President Donald Trump has said that exceptions will be made for athletes, officials and family members at the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Iran has responded to the US and Israel attacks by firing missiles and drones at Israel and countries in the region which are US allies and where the US has military bases, including Bahrain and Qatar.
The hostilities also led tyre makers Pirelli to cancel Formula One tests in Bahrain and there are question marks around next weekend's start of the Global Champions Tour equestrian series in Qatar.
Pirelli said tests of wet weather tyres on Saturday and Sunday on the Sakhir circuit was scrapped for safety reasons. It said that all its employees were safe in the capital of Manama and that it was organizing their return to Britain and Italy.
The Formula One season starts next Sunday in Australia. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races are scheduled for April 12 and 19, respectively.
German rider Philipp Weishaupt meanwhile reported that drones were sighted over the Qatar venue for the equestrian events, citing a groom on site.
"She sent me videos, the drones are flying right over the tents of the horses," Weishaupt said.
Air traffic is limited in several countries including Qatar, preventing other horses and riders to arrive for the upcoming competition. Debris from intercepted drones and missiles has caused damage at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.
'I can't imagine it happening," Weishaupt said. "There are more important things right now. We have to see how we can get the grooms and the horses out of there safely."
Japanese ski jumper Ren Nikaido, a three-time medallist at the recent Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics, missed weekend ski flying events in Austria due to the conflict.
Nikaido had to rebook his flight to Europe from Japan due to a technical problem and then got stuck at Dubai airport. He said on Instagram he has left the airport for a hotel.
Source: Qatar Tribune