Iran's Ministry of Sport has prohibited national and club teams from competing in countries it labels as "hostile." In a statement, the ministry declared, "The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice."
This move comes as Iran's Tractor FC is scheduled to face an Emirati club in Saudi Arabia in the AFC Champions League. The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs "will be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games."
The ban also casts doubt on Iran's 2026 FIFA World Cup matches scheduled in the United States. Iran has requested FIFA to move the games, but the football body has refused. Additionally, tensions persist following reports that members of Iran's women's team sought asylum in Australia.
On the US side, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon is considering sending as many as 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East. This report has heightened concerns that the war could escalate into a broader ground conflict. The newspaper, citing US Department of Defense officials, stated that the force would likely include infantry and armored vehicles.
US President Donald Trump has said he will extend a pause on attacks against Iran's energy facilities into April, insisting that talks with Tehran are purportedly "going very well." However, Iranian government officials maintain that no negotiations are taking place with Washington. Despite Trump's upbeat tone, Iran has continued retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli and US bases, as well as Gulf states, and has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor that carries about 20% of global oil and LNG shipments.
This situation has negatively impacted Wall Street, with the S&P 500 falling 1.7%, marking its fifth straight weekly loss, the longest slide in nearly four years. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on Friday that they launched missile and drone strikes a day earlier on targets in Israel and military sites in the Gulf used by US forces.
Source: www.dw.com