By Achile Danjuma
Iran has threatened to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid escalating hostilities with the United States, potentially ruling the national team out of football’s premier tournament just months before it is set to begin.
Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced on Wednesday that Iran cannot participate in the competition following reported US and Israeli airstrikes that allegedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, deepening an already severe regional crisis.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told Iranian state television, according to Reuters.
The minister cited security concerns as a primary factor in the decision. “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 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team format, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Iran has already secured qualification and was drawn into Group G during December’s draw, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.
All three of Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to take place on US soil—two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle—making participation politically sensitive given current tensions.
Speculation about a potential boycott had already surfaced last week when Iran was the only qualified team absent from a FIFA planning meeting for participating nations held in Atlanta.
FIFA has not yet issued an official response to the minister’s statements.