Iran Withdraws from 2026 FIFA World Cup Amidst Regional Conflict

Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali

Iran's sports minister announces withdrawal from 2026 World Cup, citing safety concerns and regional conflict after US and Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's decision to withdraw from 2026 World Cup sparks FIFA penalties, including fines and potential exclusion from future tournaments...

Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, announced that the country won't participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the US and Israel's airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Donyamali stated, “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”

The decision comes after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, triggering a region-wide conflict. Iran had already qualified for the tournament, but its group-stage fixtures are scheduled to be held in the US, including Los Angeles and Seattle.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with US President Donald Trump, who reiterated that Iran's team is welcome to compete in the tournament. However, Donyamali emphasized that Iran's safety concerns and the ongoing conflict make participation impossible.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 and run until July 19, with the U.S., Mexico, and Canada hosting the 48-team tournament.

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

“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.“

Over 1,300 Iranian civilians have lost their lives since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on February 28, as reported by Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. This devastating toll has led Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, to announce the country's withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing safety concerns and the inability to participate in a tournament co-hosted by the US.

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

“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.”

Iran's 2026 World Cup Schedule: All Matches to be Held in the US

Iran has been drawn into Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All three of Iran's group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, with two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. The matches are set to be played on June 15 (vs New Zealand in LA), June 21 (vs Belgium in LA), and June 26 (vs Egypt in Seattle).

Iran, who dominated the Asian qualifying rounds to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March last year, was notably absent from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta. The Iranian Football Federation and FIFA have not commented on the absence.

The absence has sparked speculation about Iran's participation in the tournament, given the country's recent withdrawal announcement due to the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, stated that the country cannot participate in the World Cup, citing safety concerns and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Disciplinary sanctions may include ⁠the expulsion of the participating member association concerned from subsequent FIFA competitions and/or the replacement of the participating member association with another member association,” FIFA's regulations say.

According to FIFA regulations, if a team withdraws from the tournament at least 30 days before the first match, they'll face a fine of at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($320,800). If they withdraw within 30 days of the tournament, the fine increases to at least 500,000 Swiss francs. They'll also have to repay preparation funds and other tournament-related payments, totaling $12 million for Iran, including $1.5 million for team preparation and $10.5 million for participation.

“The FIFA Council or the relevant committee may decide, in particular, to replace the member association in question with another association.”

Iran had chosen Tucson's Kino Sports Complex as their team base camp, and with their potential withdrawal from the 2026 World Cup, 18 months of preparation are now uncertain, putting Arizona's economy at risk. The withdrawal also raises questions about ticket sales for Iran's matches, with fans who bought expensive tickets possibly looking to resell them.

Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, cited safety concerns and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as reasons for the withdrawal. If Iran follows through, they'll face a fine of at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($320,800) and may be replaced by Iraq or the United Arab Emirates.

🚨 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Iran have ruled out attending the World Cup.

Sports Minister of the country says the security conditions or relations with the United States are not in place.

Ahmad Doyanmali said in a statement: "Given that this corrupt government has murdered… pic.twitter.com/GCwemu302S

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) March 11, 2026

Iran's World Cup Participation Welcomed by Trump, Says Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with US President Donald Trump, who assured him that Iran's national team is welcome to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. Infantino shared this development on Instagram, stating that Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.” This comes after Iran qualified for the tournament by topping Group A in the Asian qualifying rounds last year.

However, Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has expressed a different stance, stating that the country cannot participate in the World Cup due to safety concerns and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump had previously said “I really don't care” if Iran participated or not, but Infantino said he had a productive discussion with the president.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.

Iran's decision to withdraw from the 2026 World Cup has been accompanied by the cancellation of warm-up games due to the ongoing war. This development comes as Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players who sought asylum, fearing persecution upon their return home for refusing to sing the national anthem at a Women's Asian Cup match.

The Iranian women's team had faced intense scrutiny and backlash from state media, with some players reportedly facing threats and intimidation. The Australian government has provided support to the players, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stating that they were given the opportunity to make their own decisions about seeking asylum.

Australian police helped two more Iranian women's soccer team members escape their minders and claim asylum, but one has since changed her mind and decided to return to Iran, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. This brings the total number of Iranian women granted asylum in Australia to seven, including six players and one support staff member.

The women were given the opportunity to consider asylum offers at Sydney Airport, where they were separated from their Iranian minders and had time to phone their families. Burke emphasized that there was no pressure on the women to make a decision, and everything was done to ensure their dignity.

The Iranian women's soccer team had been in Australia for the Asian Cup tournament, and their decision to seek asylum comes amid concerns for their safety if they return to Iran. The team had faced backlash from Iranian state media for refusing to sing the national anthem during a match.