New Zealand footballers have said they would be willing to play Iran outside the United States in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup as uncertainty remains over the match amid geopolitical tensions.
Iran was one of the first nations to qualify for the finals, but their participation has been in doubt since the US-Israel conflict with the Islamic Republic erupted in late February.
Team Melli is scheduled to play all three of their opening round group games in the United States with their June 15 opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles, but the Iranian Football Federation has threatened to boycott games on American soil.
New Zealand is preparing as if the Los Angeles match will go ahead, but the players said on Wednesday they could accommodate a switch outside the US if necessary.
Netherlands midfielder Ryan Thomas said Iran had earned their place at the World Cup and the Whites would be able to handle the extra attention generated by the match.
“They deserve to be there as qualifications,” he said Reuters.
“If we’re going to play them in Mexico or Canada, then yeah, we’ll play them there. It’s not really a big deal to me.”
During the World Cup 11 June-19. From July, New Zealand will be based in the southern California city of San Diego, which is a short drive to the Mexican border.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week that her country would be open to hosting Iran’s World Cup matches, although the final say on any venue change would be FIFA’s.
Australian winger Kosta Barbarouses said the players would leave it to “those in charge” to make a decision about the match, but did not believe a switch would hurt New Zealand’s campaign.
“I don’t think it would derail our preparation at all,” he told Reuters.
“At least we have a base before our first game. So yeah, I don’t see why not.”
Security concerns
FIFA has declined to comment on the possibility of changing the venue for Iran’s matches, but said it was in contact with the Iran Football Association and was looking forward to teams competing according to the current fixture schedule.
Iran also play Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle in the group stage.
Barbarouses, a 36-year-old father of two, acknowledged concerns about security for the New Zealand-Iran match in Los Angeles but said he trusted the authorities to ensure the safety of players and their families as the Whites play in their first World Cup since the 2010 finals.
“I understand there will be concerns for people, but I just think with the scale of the event, I would love to have family there,” the Western Sydney Wanderers winger said.
“I would feel safe for them to be over there. I don’t think they would miss it.”
Thomas said the New Zealand players’ nerves would be high before the match, but that was normal for any opener at a major tournament.
“Obviously there is a big build-up ahead of the first game,” said the 31-year-old.
“So it will be interesting to see how we handle it, but I’m sure the group can handle it on the pitch.”
