Announcement follows strikes on the country by US, one of the tournament hosts
Iran’s participation at this summer’s World Cup has been thrown into serious doubt after the country’s sports minister declared that the national team will participate “under no circumstances” in light of their war against the United States and Israel.
Ahmad Donyamali made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview with state television, becoming the first senior Iranian government official to directly address the tournament since the United States, one of the competition’s co-hosts, launched military strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago with Israeli backing.
The airstrikes, which reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggered retaliatory attacks on Israel and several Gulf states, dramatically escalating tensions in the region.
Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said the country were not focussed on football with their nation under threat, nor could they be expected to look ahead to the tournament with optimism, although he indicated that any decision would ultimately be made by the government.
Donyamali’s comments appear to confirm that position.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said. “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.
“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 statement comes shortly after Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from US president Donald Trump that Iran would still be welcomed at the tournament. The World Cup will be hosted jointly by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino met Trump at the White House on Tuesday, where preparations for the tournament were discussed.
“We spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the Fifa World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.
“We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the US for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
