Iran has said it will not take part in the 2026 World Cup, citing security issues following United States (US) and Israeli airstrikes that Tehran says killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Speaking on state television on Wednesday, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said participation was impossible after what he described as the “assassination” of the country’s leader.
Donyamali added that the safety of Iranian players and supporters could not be guaranteed.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, triggering a wider confrontation across the Gulf.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Amir Saeid Iravani, has announced more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the attacks began on 28 February.
The expanded 48-team tournament is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran had already been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all three of its group matches due to be staged in the United States, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran, which topped its Asian qualifying group to secure a place at the finals last year, was the only qualified nation absent from a FIFA planning summit held in Atlanta last week.
Under FIFA’s World Cup regulations, any team that withdraws no later than 30 days before its opening match faces a minimum fine of 250,000 Swiss francs, with further sanctions possible. These may include expulsion from future competitions or replacement by another member association.
The stance from Tehran contrasts with comments made earlier by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who said he had discussed Iran’s participation with Donald Trump.
According to Infantino, the US president had indicated Iran would be welcome to compete despite political tensions.
Trump previously stated that he was indifferent to Iran’s participation, but Infantino described their latest talks as constructive, adding that the door remained open from FIFA’s perspective even as Tehran disclosed its withdrawal.