Iran’s World Cup 2026 participation in doubt

KATHMANDU: Iran’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, has stated that Iran may be unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to the country’s current situation.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 11 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches: against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, against Belgium on June 21, and against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

However, Iran’s participation has become uncertain following attacks by the United States and Israel, during which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed.

In response, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in other countries.

In an interview with IRIB Sports Network, Minister Donyamali said the current circumstances make participation impossible.

“We have no appropriate conditions to take part in the World Cup after this corrupt government assassinated our leader,” he said. “Our players are not safe, and there is no suitable environment to compete.”

Donyamali also noted that two wars have occurred in the past eight to nine months, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Iranian citizens. “Therefore, the possibility of participating in the World Cup does not exist for us,” he added.

Earlier, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, revealed that he had met with U.S. President Donald Trump and said the United States is ready to welcome Iran for the World Cup.

Posting on Instagram, Infantino wrote that the world needs events like the World Cup more than ever to unite people. “Football connects the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, has also raised questions about Iran’s participation in the tournament.

Security concerns have already affected Iranian football. Six members of Iran’s women’s national team received humanitarian visas in Australia due to safety fears.

After being eliminated from the AFC Asian Cup, the remaining Iranian players returned home from Australia on Tuesday.

According to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, seven individuals were initially granted asylum, but one player later changed her decision and chose to return to Iran.

Taj warned that if similar circumstances arise during the World Cup, sending the national team to the United States would not be acceptable to any reasonable person.

If Iran formally withdraws from the World Cup, FIFA will have the authority to select a replacement team.

It is speculated that another team from the Asian Football Confederation could be chosen, with Iraq or the United Arab Emirates mentioned as possible options.

However, FIFA regulations also allow the replacement to come from another confederation.

The final decision will ultimately be made by Iran’s football federation.

For now, FIFA still expects Iran to play its scheduled matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.

If Iran refuses to participate, it could face serious consequences.

In the qualification process for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, Iran refused to play against Kuwait and was subsequently eliminated from the competition.

The country was later banned by FIFA from the 1986 FIFA World Cup.