The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth announced Thursday that all national and club sports teams are prohibited from traveling to countries deemed “hostile,” citing security concerns. The directive, effective immediately, comes amid regional instability following the military operations launched on February 28 and affects upcoming international fixtures, including a high-profile football match in Saudi Arabia. The ban was prompted by the scheduled AFC Champions League Elite round-of-16 match between Iranian club Tractor SC and UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli, set to take place in Jeddah on April 14. I

The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth announced Thursday that all national and club sports teams are prohibited from traveling to countries deemed “hostile,” citing security concerns. The directive, effective immediately, comes amid regional instability following the military operations launched on February 28 and affects upcoming international fixtures, including a high-profile football match in Saudi Arabia.

The ban was prompted by the scheduled AFC Champions League Elite round-of-16 match between Iranian club Tractor SC and UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli, set to take place in Jeddah on April 14. In a statement carried by state media, the Ministry said it could not guarantee the safety of Iranian athletes abroad.

“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,” the ministry said.

The Iranian Football Federation has been instructed to notify the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and arrange for the relocation of affected matches to neutral venues. The timing of the directive suggests it is a response to ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations targeting Iranian infrastructure.

The ban also raises uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is drawn in Group G, with matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt set for U.S. cities including Los Angeles and Seattle.

Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said the federation is in talks with FIFA to explore relocating Iran’s World Cup group matches from the United States to Mexico. These demands follow remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested it might not be “appropriate” for the Iranian team to travel to the United States for their own safety. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has maintained that the tournament should proceed as scheduled.

The national squad is currently in Turkiye preparing for friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica. The policy is expected to affect other Olympic-level athletes preparing for international qualifiers, potentially limiting Iran’s participation in global sporting events.

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