Iran has officially announced its withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The decision comes after escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Speculation over Iran’s participation had circulated for months, but the confirmation was made public on Wednesday by Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Doyanmali.
“Given that the United States assassinated our leader, there are no conditions for our participation in the World Cup,” Doyanmali said.
He added, “We have suffered two wars in eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, it is impossible for us to participate in such a conflict.”
The announcement raises questions about the impact on the World Cup draw and the preparations for teams scheduled to face Iran in the qualifying rounds. FIFA has yet to issue an official response regarding the withdrawal.
