New Delhi: Iran has warned that it could stop its FIFA World Cup matches if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted inside stadiums, according to Iranian media reports citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali.
The warning comes just days before Iran begins its Group G campaign at the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday. Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium at the same venue on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
"We have informed FIFA that if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted in the stadiums where Iran plays in the World Cup, the team manager will definitely be responsible for stopping the match," Donyamali said on Tuesday, according to Iranian media.
The minister added that Iranian authorities had received assurances regarding the team's final group-stage match against Egypt.
"We have been assured that no disruptive incidents will occur in the stadium during the match against Egypt," he said.
The remarks come amid increasing scrutiny surrounding Iran's participation in the tournament. In April, demonstrators gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver and called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup, arguing that the national team represented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the Iranian people.
Iran's fixture against Egypt has also attracted attention after the football associations of both countries reportedly urged FIFA to prevent LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities around the match. Local organisers have designated the game as a "Pride Match" as part of Seattle's Pride weekend celebrations.
Off the pitch, Iran's preparations for the tournament have been affected by several organisational challenges. The Iranian Football Federation said its ticket allocation was withdrawn just days before the World Cup, leaving many supporters who had already arranged travel unable to secure match tickets.
The national team is currently training in Tijuana, Mexico, and has also faced travel complications linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently confirmed that Iran's squad would be permitted to enter the United States one day before each of its World Cup fixtures.
Despite the off-field controversies and logistical challenges, Iran is preparing to begin its World Cup campaign amid heightened political and security attention surrounding the team's participation in the tournament.
With IANS inputs