Iranian Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali said that Iran's national soccer team may compete in World Cup matches in the U.S.

Donyamali said Iran will keep the national team prepared to travel to the U.S. for the games, according to the semiofficial Iranian Students’ News Agency.

The World Cup, which kicks off in June, will be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. U.S. officials have said Iran will be allowed to compete.

The Iranian team is scheduled to play in the U.S. Iran had requested that its matches be held in Mexico, but FIFA denied the request.