Iran’s minister of youth and sports, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the country will withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the ongoing conflict.
In an interview, the minister revealed that Iran cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to the ongoing conflict and security concerns after the death of the nation’s top leader.
Iran’s sport minister, Donyamali, emphasised that the country sees no conditions under which its national team can take part in the competition.
He stressed that the killing of their citizens and the escalating tensions in the region have created an unsafe environment for Iranian athletes and officials.
“Considering that the USA has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”
The 48-team tournament is scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June to July 2026.
Iran had already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and was drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.
Iran’s potential withdrawal could have significant implications for the tournament, as FIFA may need to decide on a replacement team and determine whether disciplinary actions or fines will be imposed according to competition regulations.
