• Iran bans national and club sports teams from traveling to 'hostile' countries.
• The decision cites safety concerns for athletes ahead of upcoming matches.
• Clubs must notify the Asian Football Confederation to relocate match venues.

Iran’s Ministry of Sports announced a ban on national and club sports teams from traveling to countries deemed "hostile" until further notice. This decision comes amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly following recent conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel. The ministry articulated that the prohibition is necessary to safeguard Iranian athletes and their team members from potential harm, according to Reuters and AA.

The ministry specifically referred to an upcoming playoff match involving Tractor FC, which was scheduled to occur in Saudi Arabia against Shabab Al Ahli, indicating the match's relocation is required due to safety concerns. Aside from this, the ministry did not provide a list of countries classified as hostile, emphasizing the importance of athlete security in all potential venues, as reported by Al Jazeera and AA.

The announcement also has implications for Iran's national team, which has qualified for the upcoming World Cup jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Discussions are ongoing regarding the potential relocation of their matches to Mexico due to U.S. President Trump's safety concerns voiced earlier this month. The Iranian football federation is actively working with FIFA on this issue, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.