Iran Refuses to Play in U.S. World Cup

Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has declared that the national football team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Speaking on Iranian state television, he stated,

“We cannot, under any circumstances, take part in a World Cup hosted in the country whose corrupt government has murdered our leader.”

This announcement comes amid a backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East, which began nearly two weeks ago between Iran and Israel and has since drawn in the United States. Airstrikes by U.S. and Israeli forces reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other high-ranking officials. The minister emphasised the humanitarian consequences:

“In the last eight to nine months, two wars have been imposed on us. Thousands of our people have been killed. When our children’s safety cannot be guaranteed, the question of playing football abroad does not even arise.”

Iran’s World Cup Group and Fixtures

According to the draw held last December, Iran is in Group G, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All three of Iran’s group-stage matches were scheduled to be held in the United States—two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Should both Iran and the United States finish second in their respective groups, the two sides would meet on 3 July in the Round of 32.

*Conditional match if both teams finish second in their groups

Iran was notably absent from last week’s FIFA preparatory meeting in Atlanta, sparking debate among officials and media. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously remarked that he was unconcerned about Iran’s participation, describing the country as “very badly beaten” in sporting terms.

FIFA’s Position

FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains optimistic. Following a meeting with President Trump, Infantino stated on social media that the U.S. assured him Iran would be allowed to participate:

“We discussed Iran’s current situation. President Trump confirmed that he has no objection to the Iranian team participating in the tournament in the United States.”

Infantino also suggested that the World Cup could serve as a unifying event amid global instability, highlighting football’s potential to bring people together.

FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Heimo Shirgi reiterated that the tournament could not be delayed despite regional conflicts, but the organisation is closely monitoring the situation:

“We are evaluating the daily circumstances. At some point, the situation will resolve, and the World Cup will go ahead. It is such a large event that we hope all qualified teams will be able to participate.”

Potential Consequences

If Iran ultimately withdraws, FIFA faces a dilemma. Three years ago, Indonesia lost hosting rights for the U-20 World Cup after refusing to host Israel. With the U.S. as the 2026 host, questions remain whether safety assurances can be provided to Iran or whether Iran will withdraw voluntarily. FIFA’s next steps could set a significant precedent for how political conflicts intersect with global football.