Iran Officially Rules Out 2026 World Cup Participation Amid U.S.-Led Conflict, Sports Minister Declares"
Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has confirmed that the national football team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This decision comes amid the escalating conflict involving U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which reportedly resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In statements to Iranian state television on March 11, 2026, Donyamali emphasized security concerns and the impossibility of participation under current conditions. Key quotes from his remarks include: "Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup." "Our players do not have security, and fundamentally the conditions for participation do not exist." "Due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran — they have imposed two wars on us over just eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our peop...