Iran will not take part in World Cup 2026 hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The announcement came from the country’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Doyanmali, who confirmed that the Iranian national team would boycott the tournament amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
His statement contradicts earlier remarks from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who had suggested that Iran would be welcome to participate despite the difficult international climate.
Explaining the decision, Doyanmali delivered strong criticism of the United States. “Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, there are no conditions under which we would participate in this World Cup,” he declared, adding that Iran had suffered multiple conflicts in recent months and thousands of civilian deaths.
He also argued that if another country were responsible for such actions, “the international community would surely have already reacted and stripped them of the right to host the competition.” Iran’s stance could still change if the situation evolves, but for now the decision raises the possibility that FIFA may need to find a replacement nation for the tournament.
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