France, March 17 -- Fifa, which stages the World Cup every four years, has not publicly acknowledged the Iranian claim which follows comments from the American president Donald Trump after Israel and the US launched air strikes on Iran on 28 February.

Trump said last week that while Iran were welcome to participate in the competition, he suggested it might not be appropriate for them to play in the US for their own life and safety.

"When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," said Iranian football federation chief Medhi Taj in a post on the Iranian embassy in Mexico's X account.

He said the Iranian federation was in ...