Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced today, Wednesday, that his country will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This shocking decision follows the U.S.-Israeli attacks that led to the assassination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"No participation with a corrupt regime"

In a statement to state television, Donyamali said: “Since this corrupt regime [the United States] has assassinated our leader, we will not participate in the World Cup under any circumstances.”

The minister added that current conditions do not allow participation, especially as the people of Iran are not safe after approximately 1,255 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries occurred during the first twelve days of the war that erupted on February 28.

Consequences of the decision and FIFA’s stance

It is noted that all of Iran’s group stage matches were scheduled in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle.

These statements come despite assurances from the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, that U.S. President Donald Trump had renewed his welcome for the Iranian team’s participation in the tournament. Iran was the first country to officially secure qualification for the World Cup, which will begin on June 11.

This is the first official position of the Iranian government, following earlier doubts expressed by the Iran Football Federation President, Mehdi Taj, about the feasibility of participation, asking: “Who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?”