Iran Withdraws from 2026 World Cup Following Leader’s Death
Tehran, Iran – Iran will not participate in the 2026 World Cup. The sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, made the announcement on Wednesday. The minister cited the recent death of the country’s leader as the reason.
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes nearly two weeks ago. Specifically, the strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Consequently, the attack triggered a wider conflict across the Gulf region.
Following the news, Minister Donyamali spoke directly to state television. He confirmed the national team’s withdrawal from the tournament. Notably, the United States is a primary host nation for the event.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, we cannot participate,” Donyamali stated firmly. Furthermore, he argued the situation makes competition impossible. “Our children are not safe,” he explained to reporters.
The minister also referenced the wider conflict with the US. He described the ongoing situation as two forced wars. These actions have killed thousands of Iranian people over many months. “We certainly cannot have such a presence,” he added decisively.
This decision comes after recent comments from FIFA’s president. Gianni Infantino reported a conversation with former President Donald Trump. Trump had stated that Iran remained welcome at the World Cup.
Infantino shared details of their meeting on Instagram. They discussed preparations for the upcoming competition. They also spoke about the current situation inside Iran. Trump reportedly reiterated that the Iranian team could come.
However, just last week Trump expressed indifference on the matter. He stated he “really didn’t care” about Iran’s participation. The 2026 tournament is a 48-nation event. The United States, Canada, and Mexico are co-hosting it.
Iran’s withdrawal significantly impacts the official tournament schedule. Initially, they were set to play group games in California and Seattle. Their scheduled opponents included New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Furthermore, a potential knockout match with the US was also possible.
Additionally, FIFA has strict rules for teams withdrawing late. Any team leaving within 30 days of the first match faces a fine. Specifically, the disciplinary committee will levy at least 250,000 Swiss francs.
Further sanctions could also apply to the Iranian federation. For instance, FIFA regulations allow for expulsion from future competitions. Consequently, another member association could potentially replace them. For now, the football world waits for FIFA’s official response.
