Iran has announced that it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to hold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, citing ongoing regional tensions and recent attacks against the country.
The announcement came from Ahmad Donjamali, Iran’s Minister of Sport, who stated on television that the national team would be unable to compete. “Since this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, we have no intention of participating in the World Cup,” he said, referring to the escalating military actions in the region.
Donjamali described the situation as dire, highlighting that “two wars have been imposed on us in eight or nine months and several thousand of our citizens have been killed,” emphasizing that under these conditions, participation was impossible.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously expressed optimism about Iran’s participation following a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly assured him that the Iranian team would be welcome at the tournament.
With Iran’s withdrawal, questions now arise over who will take their place in the World Cup. According to FIFA regulations, the governing body has the authority to select a replacement team at its discretion. Article 6.7 of FIFA’s rules states: “If a participating member association withdraws and/or is excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA will decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take any measures it deems necessary. FIFA may decide to replace the participating association in question with another association.”
The decision adds uncertainty to the intercontinental qualification process, as other nations and FIFA organizers consider the implications of Iran’s absence.
