Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali has stated that they ⁠cannot ⁠participate in the upcoming edition of the FIFAWorld ⁠Cup2026 after the ⁠United States killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The news first began circulating following the escalation of events in the Middle East, including strikes by the United States and Israel that resulted in Ayatollah Khamenei's death and Iran's retaliation against nations like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Iran's Minister of Sport, Ahmad Donjamali has now stated that it is impossible for the national team to play in the United States.

“Considering that this corrupt ⁠regime [the US] has ⁠assassinated our leader, under no circumstances ⁠can we ⁠participate in ⁠the World Cup,” the minister told ‌state television on Wednesday.

Tehran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel, several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate and at infrastructure in the region.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the World Cup, but American cities like Los Angeles and Seattle will host all of Iran's group-stage matches. 1255 people have died and another 12,000 have been injured in the first 12 days of the US and Israeli war on Iran, which started on February 28. In retaliation, Tehran has launched waves of missiles and drones toward Israel, several US military base in the Middle East.

“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. 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," Donyamali said.

Since the US and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, this is the first time an Iranian government official has discussed the country's participation in the international competition. Last week, the head of the Iranian Football Federation did not state that whether the team will boycott from the competition but made it look doubtful.

“After this attack [on Iran], we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope. If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?” Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said on March 1.

Nikhil is an accomplished sports journalist with extensive experience spanning several years across digital, and multimedia platforms. Currently contr...View More

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