Iran's sports minister says national team will not compete in 2026 World Cup
Iran's sports minister cited the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and ongoing military conflict as reasons for the withdrawal from the tournament.
March 11, 2026 at 01:09 PM
Iran's Minister of Sports Ahmad Donyamali announced Wednesday that the country's national football team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Donyamali attributed the decision to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in attacks by the United States and Israel on February 28, and to the broader military conflict affecting Iran. "Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, there are no conditions for us to participate in the World Cup," Donyamali said in a televised interview, according to the German news agency DPA.
The minister elaborated on the security and humanitarian concerns underlying the withdrawal. "Our boys are not safe, and fundamentally, the conditions for the team's participation do not exist," he stated. He also referenced the scale of the conflict, saying: "Considering the malicious actions carried out against Iran, two wars have been imposed on us in eight or nine months, and thousands of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this manner."
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup by finishing first in Group A of the Asian Football Confederation's qualifying rounds. The team had been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All three of Iran's group-stage matches were scheduled to be played in the United States: two matches in Inglewood, California—against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21—and one in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously stated that Iran would face no obstacles in competing, according to reports.
The withdrawal carries potential consequences for Iran. Officials said the country could face economic and sporting sanctions, including fines of up to $647,712 and exclusion from future FIFA competitions.
Iran has participated in six World Cups throughout its history. The announcement of the team's non-participation has raised questions about which nation might fill the vacant spot in Group G. According to reports, Iraq, which qualified for the international playoff round in Asian qualifying, has been mentioned as a potential replacement, though no official decision has been made by FIFA.