"No one can exclude us," Iran football team responses to World Cup uncertainty

TEHRAN, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's national football team said in a statement on social media that no one can exclude it from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after recent uncertainty over its participation in the tournament.

"The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA - not any individual, country," the team said in a statement on Thursday. "Iran's national team, with strength a