Iranian Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmad Donyamali hinted at the possibility that the Iranian national team might not participate in the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, in light of the recent sharp military and political escalation in the region.
The minister said in media statements he made today: “The current security and political conditions do not allow the national team to participate in competitions held on American soil, especially after the recent military escalation that left thousands of victims and raised serious questions within Iranian society about the feasibility of participating in a tournament hosted by a country accused of direct involvement in those operations.”.
Donyamali added that his country is facing “major crises” as a result of the recent military developments, stressing that no final decision has yet been made, and that the Iranian government and the relevant sports authorities, especially the Iranian Football Federation, are still closely monitoring the situation and studying all possibilities in light of the rapidly evolving political and security developments.
The Iranian national team had secured its qualification for the 2026 World Cup through the Asian qualifiers, and is scheduled to play its three group stage matches on American soil, where the tournament, which is the largest in the history of the World Cup with the participation of 48 teams, will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The Iranian minister's remarks come amid heightened regional and international tensions, marked by joint US-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets, leading to an unprecedented escalation and significant humanitarian and political repercussions. Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj had previously raised similar concerns, citing the difficulty of participating in the tournament given the "aggression" the country had faced.
In contrast, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that US President Donald Trump told him during a meeting between them that the Iranian national team was welcome to participate in the tournament despite the political tensions, stressing that football should remain a means of uniting peoples even in the most difficult circumstances.
Nevertheless, Iranian sports sources confirmed that the final decision will be issued from the highest government levels, taking into account the sporting and diplomatic implications of any withdrawal, especially since such a decision could expose Iran to sanctions from the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) in future competitions.
