Iran has formally withdrawn from the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite qualifying for the expanded 48-team tournament, blaming the ongoing conflict with the United States and safety concerns following the assassination of its supreme leader.
Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali confirmed the decision on state television on Tuesday. Iran had been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand for the event co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Donyamali said: “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”
He added: “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
Referring to the escalation since the February 28 killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the minister declared: “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.”
The conflict has already claimed more than 1,200 lives and left over 12,000 people wounded in less than two weeks, according to Iranian authorities.
‘I don’t care’ if Iran play at FIFA World Cup in U.S. — Trump
Trump disclosed this in an interview with Politico on Tuesday. Iran was the only country missing from the FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held in Atlanta on Monday.
“I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes,” the American leader said amid uncertainty regarding the conflict’s timeframe, which entered its fifth day on Wednesday.
Iran is drawn into Group C of the World Cup alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all their group-stage matches taking place in the United States.
Several Iranian football officials could not attend the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington last December after the Trump administration denied them U.S. visas.
FIFA has not yet issued a statement on the withdrawal or any possible replacement in the group stage.
