Iran are among the countries who have qualified for this summer’s World Cup but their participation in the tournament, to be hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada from 11 June, remains in doubt.
They are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before their final group game against Egypt in Seattle.
However, US President Donald Trump said earlier this month it would not be “appropriate” for them to take part “for their own life and safety”.
Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, then said the country will not travel to the US for what would be a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in a post, external on a social media account belonging to the Iranian embassy in Mexico.
Taj said Iran were negotiating with Fifa to hold their matches in Mexico but the governing body appear to have ruled out that possiblity.
Iran, who were beaten 2-1 by Nigeria on Friday, will face Costa Rica in another friendly in Turkey on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the country’s women’s national team players declined to sing the national anthem during an AFC Women’s Asian Cup match, leading to a host on Iranian state TV calling them “traitors”.
A number of the players had initially sought humanitarian visas to stay in Australia after concerns they would face repercussions for their protest but all members of the team eventually returned to Iran after dropping their bids for asylum.
