Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup was put additional in doubt following feedback by the nation’s sports minister on Wednesday.
Nearly two weeks after the United States began airstrikes on Iran, Ahmad Donyamali mentioned that Iran can’t take part in this summer time’s match, which will likely be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], there are no conditions which allow us to participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali mentioned, in keeping with media citing the company DPA.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
Iran was drawn into Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand and can play its video games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. The workforce is scheduled to set up a training base in Tucson, Arizona.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino mentioned he met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday to debate World Cup preparations and was advised Iran could be allowed to enter the U.S.
“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 said via Instagram. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Last week, when requested about Iran’s potential participation in the World Cup, Trump said “I really don’t care.”
Trump was commenting on Iran’s status after the president of the country’s soccer confederation said it was unlikely it would be one of the competition’s 48-teams.
Last June, Trump imposed a travel ban for Iranian nationals, but there are exceptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event.”
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“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino mentioned.
Should Iran not take part, it is probably that Iraq or the United Arab Emirates would take its place in Group G.