Iran has said it cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the reported killing of its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by the United States, according to remarks by Iran’s sports minister.
Speaking to state television, Ahmad Donyamali said Iran would not take part in the global football tournament under the current circumstances.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” he said, according to reports citing Reuters and Al Jazeera.
Conflict escalates in West Asia
The latest escalation in tensions between Iran and the alliance of Israel and the United States reportedly began on February 28, triggering widespread regional instability.
The ongoing conflict has also disrupted global energy supply chains and heightened geopolitical tensions across West Asia.
Donyamali said that the current security situation makes it impossible for Iran to consider participating in the tournament.
“Our children are not safe and fundamentally such conditions for participation do not exist,” he said, adding that the country has suffered thousands of casualties in recent conflicts.
World Cup to be hosted in North America
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 104 matches, marking the first time the competition expands to 48 teams.
The opening match is scheduled to take place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, while the final will be played at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.
All of Iran’s group-stage fixtures were expected to be played in American cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle.
FIFA says Iran team welcome
The remarks by Iran’s sports minister came after Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, said that the Iranian team would be welcome to compete in the United States.
In a social media post, Infantino said that Donald Trump had reiterated that Iran’s national football team would be allowed to participate in the tournament.
However, Mehdi Taj also expressed doubts about Iran’s participation following the recent attacks.
He said it would be difficult for the country to approach the tournament with optimism given the current political and security situation.
The final decision regarding Iran’s participation is expected to depend on how the geopolitical tensions and security conditions evolve in the coming months.