US EditionIran cannot participate in World Cup, sports minister says
Iran withdraws from 2026 World Cup citing safety concerns amid war, with over 1,300 civilians killed, according to officials.
- This year, Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali ruled out the Iran men's national football team playing at the U.S.-hosted World Cup.
- Tehran points to recent airstrikes and the killing of the supreme leader, saying 'Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup', Donyamali said.
- Qualified for the June 11-July 18 tournament, the team was slated to play three group matches against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Inglewood, California and Seattle.
- Six players chose to stay in Australia after receiving humanitarian visas, and Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj hinted at a possible boycott following recent events.
- FIFA said the World Cup will go on and noted Heimo Schirgi, FIFA chief operating officer, said 'We basically take it day by day, and at some stage we will have a resolution'.
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231 Articles
Iranian sports minister: Under no circumstances can we participate in World Cup
Iran's Sports Minister cited the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khameini and the casualties from the current and previous Iran war, which 'killed and martyred thousands of our people', as preventing Iran from taking part
Iran Says 'Under No Circumstances' Will It Play In 2026 World Cup
Iran says its men's national soccer team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the recent military conflict in the Middle East.Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said Wednesday that the country cannot send its national team to a tournament that will be hosted primarily in the United States."Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Don…
Iran Soccer Team Barred from U.S. World Cup, Tehran Confirms.
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: Iran announced it will not compete in the FIFA World Cup following the killing of its now-former Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Iranian government, FIFA, the Iranian Football Federation, President Donald J. Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.WHEN & WHERE: The withdrawal was announced on March 1, 2026. The World Cup is scheduled to occur from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the …
"Since this corrupt regime (in reference to the Trump administration) has murdered our leader, we cannot participate in the World Cup under any circumstances," said Ahman Donyamali.
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