Iran can not take part within the 2026 World Cup after the USA killed their chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the sports activities minister, Ahmad Donyamali, mentioned on Wednesday.
The US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran almost two weeks in the past, killing the Islamic Republic’s supreme chief, resulting in a region-wide battle within the Gulf.
“Contemplating that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our chief, by no means can we take part within the World Cup,” the minister instructed state tv. “Our youngsters are usually not protected and, essentially, such circumstances for participation don’t exist.
“Given the malicious actions they’ve carried out towards Iran, they’ve compelled two wars on us over eight or 9 months and have killed and martyred hundreds of our folks. Due to this fact, we actually can not have such a presence.”
Donyamali’s feedback got here after the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, reported that Donald Trump had mentioned Iran had been “welcome” to play on the upcoming World Cup, regardless of the continuing conflict within the Center East.
If you have already got the Guardian app, be sure to’re on the latest model.
Within the Guardian app, faucet the Profile settings button on the high proper, then choose Notifications.
Activate sport notifications.
“,”credit score”:””}”>
Fast Information
How do I join sport breaking information alerts?
Present
Obtain the Guardian app from the iOS App Retailer on iPhone or the Google Play retailer on Android by trying to find ‘The Guardian’.
If you have already got the Guardian app, be sure to’re on the latest model.
Within the Guardian app, faucet the Profile settings button on the high proper, then choose Notifications.
Activate sport notifications.
Infantino mentioned that in a gathering with Trump to debate preparations for the competitors, “we additionally spoke in regards to the present state of affairs in Iran”. Infantino wrote on Instagram: “Throughout the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian staff is, in fact, welcome to compete within the event in the USA.”
Iranian officers recommended just lately that the nation’s participation was in some doubt due to the conflict and final week Trump mentioned “I actually don’t care” whether or not Iran participate within the 48-nation event being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Iran are scheduled to play group video games towards New Zealand and Belgium in Inglewood, California, and Egypt in Seattle. If the US and Iran end second of their respective teams, they might meet on 3 July in Dallas.
Infantino has an in depth relationship with the US president, who in December was given Fifa’s inaugural peace prize. “All of us want an occasion just like the Fifa World Cup to carry folks collectively now greater than ever,” Infantino mentioned, including that he thanked Trump “for his help”.
This week Fifa’s World Cup chief working officer, Heimo Schirgi, mentioned the event was “too huge” to be postponed due to world turmoil brought on by the US and Israeli conflict towards Iran. “We hope that everybody can take part that has certified,” Schirgi mentioned.
If the US refused to host the Iran staff it might danger being eliminated as a World Cup host by Fifa. That’s what occurred to Indonesia three years in the past when the nation refused to welcome Israel for the lads’s Beneath-20 World Cup eight months after the Israeli staff certified. Fifa dropped Indonesia weeks earlier than the scheduled first sport and moved that event to Argentina.
Thanks for studying! Be part of our group at Spectator Daily
![The Google Weather Android ‘app’ is going away [U]](https://spectatordaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1773235623_The-Google-Weather-Android-‘app-is-going-away-U-120x86.jpg)
