New Zealand’s national football team has expressed a willingness to play their 2026 World Cup opening match against Iran outside of the United States following Iranian boycott threats linked to ongoing regional geopolitical tensions.
New Zealand players confirmed Wednesday they would accommodate moving their June 15 World Cup opener from Los Angeles to Mexico or Canada.
The Iranian Football Federation has threatened to boycott matches on U.S. soil due to the US-Israel war on Iran.
Midfielder Ryan Thomas supported Iran’s participation, stating, “If we’ve got to play them in Mexico or Canada, then yeah, we play them there.”
Despite security concerns and the potential for a venue switch, the All Whites remain focused on their first World Cup appearance since 2010.
Winger Kosta Barbarouses noted that moving the fixture would not disrupt the team’s San Diego-based preparations.
Maintaining confidence in the organizers, Barbarouses addressed the potential change by saying, “I don’t think it would derail our preparation at all.”
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