Inter Milan will play the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup without forward Mehdi Taremi amid the escalating conflict between Israel and his native Iran, according to ESPN.

Israel struck Iran on Friday with a series of missile attacks aimed at the country’s nuclear facilities and high-ranking military officials, with Revolutionary Guard head Hossein Salami among the casualties. Iran responded on Saturday with its own deadly missile strike, triggering an expanded assault from Israel.

The exchange of missiles has grounded all Iranian flights over the past two days, leaving Taremi unable to join his Inter Milan teammates in Los Angeles. Taremi had been playing for Iran’s national team earlier this week, scoring a goal against North Korea on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier in Tehran.

Inter Milan is scheduled to open its Club World Cup campaign against Mexico’s Monterrey tomorrow at the Rose Bowl.

Reports from Italian media indicate Taremi will not join Inter for any Club World Cup matches, regardless of how the situation in Iran develops.
The 32-year-old Taremi is in his second year with Inter after joining the club on a free transfer from Porto last summer. He recorded three goals and seven assists in 43 appearances across all competitions in his first season, which saw Inter reach the Champions League final only to get blown out 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Chelsea arrived at their Philadelphia base in the United States on Friday with an initial 28-man squad for the competition.
Enzo Maresca’s side are preparing for more silverware following their Conference League triumph last month and their race to more wins begins today against MLS side LAFC, who are based in Los Angeles.

A busy summer awaits Chelsea as they look to adapt to the quick turnaround from the domestic and European season, to the Club World Cup.

“We had a few days off after the Conference League final,” head coach Maresca told the club’s in-house media ahead of today’s fixture. “But then we returned and we started to prepare for this competition. It was so quick (the turnaround) and we needed to be ready.

“The good thing is that we finished the Premier League and the Conference League in the way we all wanted, so now we have arrived with a good feeling and are fully focused on this competition.”

New signings Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo could make their first appearances for the club since joining Chelsea this summer.