Iran has announced that it will not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing escalating conflict involving the United States and Israel.
The decision was announced by Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, who said there were “no conditions” under which the national team could participate in the tournament given the current security and political situation.
According to the minister, the decision follows recent military strikes by the United States and Israel that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and triggered a broader regional conflict.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said in a televised interview.
“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way,” he added.
The 2026 tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Iran had already qualified for the competition after finishing top of their group in the Asian qualifiers and had been drawn alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the group stage. Their matches were scheduled to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle in the United States.
Earlier, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that the Iranian team would be welcome to compete despite rising geopolitical tensions.
Infantino said the World Cup should serve as a platform that brings nations together, stressing that global football has a role to play in promoting unity during difficult times.
However, Iranian authorities insist that the prevailing security and political environment makes participation impossible, raising uncertainty over whether the team will formally withdraw and which country could replace it in the tournament lineup.
