New Delhi: Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali has confirmed the Iranian national football team will not take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 later this year. Iran have qualified for the showpiece event and are placed in Group G of the tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran’s decision not to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 comes at a time when the country is engaged in a full-blown war with Israel and the United States of America. Iran faced airstrikes from Israel and the US earlier this month, marking the beginning of the ongoing war in West Asia.
Iran also saw its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, lose his life in the strikes. Amid the ongoing conflict, Donyamali said Iran will not participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 under any circumstances after the US, which is co-hosting the tournament, killed its leader, Khamenei, in the ongoing war.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the Iran sports minister told the state television channel.
“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,” added Donyamali.
Iran decline Donald Trump’s invitation to play FIFA World Cup
The Iranian sports minister’s comments came hours after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the US president Donald Trump has welcomed Iran to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is set to be played from June 11 to July 19. The quadrennial football extravaganza will see 48 best teams from across the globe take part in the competition.
Trump had earlier said, “I really don’t care” when asked about Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup. However, FIFA president Infantino later claimed he held talks with the US president, who was willing to welcome Iran to the tournament and guarantee them safe entry.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.