Fresh doubt over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrived on Wednesday.
The country’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said the team cannot participate in this summer’s tournament co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last weekend that precipitated a regional war in the Middle East.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told Iranian state television. “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 announcement comes only hours after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that U.S. president Donald Trump had given him assurances that Iran was welcome to participate after a meeting on Tuesday.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote on Instagram. “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 United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”
Iran is currently scheduled to be a part of Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Their first group-stage game is scheduled for June 15 in Los Angeles. After two games at SoFi Stadium, Iran will relocate to Seattle for their final group-stage match on June 26.
Iran has previously participated in six previous World Cups, including the last three in a row.