The Iranian government has expressed skepticism regarding the national football team's involvement in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the United States, following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by American military actions.
During an address on state television, Ahmad Donyamali emphasized that sending the national football team to the United States for the competition poses significant security risks.
He remarked, “Given the heinous actions taken against Iran, which have led to two wars in a span of eight or nine months and resulted in the deaths and martyrdom of thousands of our people, participation in the World Cup is certainly not feasible for us.”
Iran had successfully qualified for the 2026 tournament, set to occur from June 11 to July 19, across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Currently, Iran is scheduled to face the New Zealand national team in their opening match on June 15 in Inglewood, followed by a game against Belgium on June 21. The group stage campaign is slated to conclude with a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
However, uncertainties about Iran’s participation increased after the US and Israel commenced airstrikes against Iran on February 28.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that he received assurances from former President Donald Trump regarding Iran's welcome in the tournament.
Infantino noted that during a previous meeting with Trump, he discussed arrangements for the World Cup and addressed Iran's qualification status.
In a social media post, Infantino highlighted, “We talked about the current circumstances in Iran and the fact that the Iranian squad has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026. President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is absolutely welcome to participate in the tournament in the United States.”
Infantino also emphasized the importance of global sporting events like the World Cup as tools for uniting individuals amid conflict.
An anonymous White House source corroborated that Trump conveyed this message to Infantino.
Despite these assurances, officials from Iran's football association have raised red flags concerning the national team's ability to compete.
Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation, remarked last week that the recent military action significantly altered the prevailing situation.
“What is clear is that in the aftermath of this attack, we cannot approach the World Cup with optimism,” Taj stated.
If Iran were to withdraw from the tournament, FIFA regulations provide limited guidance for replacements, but Iraq or the United Arab Emirates could potentially step in for Iran in Group G.
In another context, six members of Iran’s delegation from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia following their elimination from the tournament.
Initially, five players sought asylum, with Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirming that another player and staff member later expressed their intention to stay in the country, albeit one player eventually chose to return to Iran.
Concerns regarding the players’ safety arose when they opted not to sing the national anthem before their first match against South Korea’s women’s national team, which led to backlash from supporters of the Iranian regime. The players later sang the anthem in subsequent games.
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