Iran players not safe to compete at World Cup – Official

Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the country will not be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing security concerns following recent regional conflicts. Iran was scheduled to play three group matches in the tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their fixtures included games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June, and against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The announcement follows US and Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and other nations hosting US military bases. While FIFA president Gianni Infantino said US President Donald Trump assured him Iran was “welcome to compete,” Donyamali insisted the team could not safely participate. As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, Donyamali was quoted as saying, “Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said, adding that ongoing conflicts over the past nine months have resulted in thousands of casualties. The announcement casts doubt on Iran’s World Cup campaign and raises questions about the tournament’s schedule and group-stage match logistics. He said: “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.” PUNCH E-Paper icon (FILES) This photograph shows the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-Off draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. beIN Sports will broadcast in France all the matches of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, to the detriment of the Ligue 1+ platform, which had nevertheless reached an agreement with FIFA, AFP learned on February 11, 2026 from several sources close to the matter. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the country will not be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing security concerns following recent regional conflicts. Iran was scheduled to play three group matches in the tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their fixtures included games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June, and against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The announcement follows US and Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and other nations hosting US military bases. While FIFA president Gianni Infantino said US President Donald Trump assured him Iran was “welcome to compete,” Donyamali insisted the team could not safely participate. Explainer: Cholera As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, Donyamali was quoted as saying, “Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said, adding that ongoing conflicts over the past nine months have resulted in thousands of casualties. The announcement casts doubt on Iran’s World Cup campaign and raises questions about the tournament’s schedule and group-stage match logistics. He said: “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.” Related News UCL: Late Havertz penalty rescues Arsenal in 1–1 draw at Leverkusen US practically has nothing left to target in Iran, says Trump Italian PM condemns ‘massacre’ of schoolgirls in Iran Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s Football Federation, had also questioned their ability to participate in the World Cup, following six members of Iran’s women’s national team receiving “humanitarian” visas from Australia over concerns for their safety. The remaining Iranian players left Australia on Tuesday after the team’s elimination from the Asian Cup. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said seven people were granted asylum, but one woman later changed her mind and opted to return home. Taj said: “Given the problems created for the female footballers, if the World Cup outlook is like this, no sound mind would accept sending the team to the US.” If Iran does withdraw from what would be its fourth consecutive World Cup, Fifa’s regulations give the governing body discretion to choose a replacement, but it is unclear who that would be. The most likely is thought to be a fellow team from the Asian Football Confederation – Iraq, who could secure qualification anyway through a play-off match this month, or the UAE, who missed out on the play-offs. However, FIFA’s rules state that a replacement need not be from the same confederation.