Iran's Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the national team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision
Iran’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the national team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This decision follows a dramatic escalation in regional conflict, including recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s sports minister’s official statement
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” he said on state television.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
The World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Iran were due to play Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the competition.
The withdrawal is a major blow to the tournament as Iran was the first nation to secure qualification through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, all of Iran’s group-stage matches were scheduled for U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle.
Despite the Iranian boycott, FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that U.S. President Donald Trump had previously offered assurances that the Iranian team would be “welcome” to compete.
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