Tehran, Iran – Iran has said it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said the country would not take part in the tournament after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during the conflict.
Speaking on state television, Donyamali said Iran could not participate in a competition hosted partly by the United States under the current circumstances.
The United States is set to co-host the tournament with Canada and Mexico, while Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in American cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has reportedly resulted in more than 1,200 deaths and thousands of injuries. Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and several locations in the Middle East where US forces are present.
Despite the tension, Gianni Infantino said Iran would still be welcome to participate in the tournament. According to Infantino, Donald Trump reaffirmed that Iran’s national team would be allowed to compete in the competition.
Iran was the first country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19.
