Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has declared that the country will boycott this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026 following the joint United States–Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The escalating conflict has drawn in several nations across the Middle East, with Iran responding by launching retaliatory strikes on US military bases in the region.
The World Cup is scheduled to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July.
Iran had been slated to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 respectively, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
However, Donyamali insisted the Iranian team will not travel to the United States for the tournament, saying there is “no possibility” of participation under the current circumstances.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said in a television interview (RTE).
“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”
Donyamali’s remarks come after Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from US President Donald Trump that Iran would be allowed to compete at the tournament.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
He added, “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
