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Reuters

Iran cannot take part in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the United States launched air strikes against the country alongside Israel, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran almost two weeks ago, killing the Islamic Republic’s ‌supreme leader, leading to a region-wide conflict in the Gulf.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television.
The 48-team World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
“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.”
More than 1,300 Iranian civilians ‌have been killed since the US and Israeli air strikes began on February 28, according to Iran’s United Nations ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani.
Drawn to play in Los Angeles, Seattle
In the draw last December, the Iranians were grouped ‌with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. All three of their Group G matches were scheduled to take place in ⁠the US, two in Los Angeles ⁠and one in Seattle.
Iran, who dominated the Asian qualifying rounds to qualify for the tournament in March last year, was the only nation missing from a Fifa planning ‌summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta.
The Iranian Football Federation has been contacted for comment, while there was no immediate comment from Fifa on a replacement if Iran ‌followed ‌through with a boycott.
Fifa regulations for the World Cup state that any team that withdraws from the tournament “no later than 30 days before ‌the first match” will be fined at least 250,000 Swiss francs (US$320,800) by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee.
“Disciplinary sanctions may include the expulsion of the ⁠participating member association concerned from subsequent Fifa competitions and/or the replacement of the participating member association with another member association,” Fifa’s regulations say.

Infantino says President Trump welcomes Iran team
Earlier, Fifa President Gianni Infantino said he had met US President Donald Trump, who told him he welcomed Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Trump had previously said “I really don’t care” if Iran took part at ‌the World Cup or not, but Infantino ‌said he had a productive discussion with the president.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.
A source in Tehran familiar with the matter said the decision was to not attend the World Cup, while warm-up games were also not possible because of the war.


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Fifa World Cup 2026

Iran’s national team before their Fifa World Cup 2026 Asia zone group A qualifiers against Uzbekistan last March in Tehran that finished 2-2. Photo: AFP

Iran midfielder Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (centre) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal in their 3-0 win over North Korea in a World Cup 2026 Asia zone group A qualifier. Photo: AFP

Fifa president Gianni Infantino (right) says US President Donald Trump told him the Iranian team were welcome to compete in the World Cup in the United States. Photo: TNS

Australia grants asylum to 2 more members of Iran football delegation

Members of Iran’s women’s football delegation arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on their way home from the Women’s Asia Cup in Australia. Photo: AFP

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Coleman Wong, here in action during the recent Delray Beach Open, is being urged to ‘swing freely’ against Roman Andres Burruchaga. Photo: Getty Images

Coleman Wong has the ability to rebound from tough losses, says coach James Allemby. Photo: Eugene Lee

James Allemby believes Coleman Wong’s opponents ‘went for it more’ in recent tiebreaks. Photo: Elson Li

Martin Landaluce in action in Indian Wells last week. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico


Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico.


Iran will not compete in United States-hosted 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico

Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico