By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, announced that Iran national football team will not participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States.
The declaration was made on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, during an interview on Iranian state television in Tehran. Donyamali said participation in a tournament partly hosted by the United States had become impossible following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes inside Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered widespread regional tensions.
According to Iranian officials, security concerns and the ongoing war have created conditions in which the safety of Iranian players cannot be guaranteed. The government also argues that competing in a tournament hosted in part by a country it accuses of attacking Iran would be politically unacceptable.
The decision comes despite assurances from Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, who said Donald Trump had indicated Iran would be welcome at the tournament.
If Iran formally withdraws, FIFA may select another qualified nation to replace it in the global competition scheduled for June–July 2026.
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