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The Iranian government announced that its national football team will not participate in the 2026 World Cup, a decision that could alter the composition of the tournament just months before it starts and force FIFA to decide which country will take its place.
The information was confirmed by the Iranian Minister of Sports, Ahman Donyamali, who justified the withdrawal due to the escalation of the conflict with the United States and Israel.
“After the corrupt government killed our leader, there are no conditions that allow us to participate in the World Cup”, stated Donyamali, as reported by international agencies that collected statements disseminated by DPA.
The official is referring to the attacks by the United States and Israel on February 28, in which the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, was killed.
In that context, the minister stated that the country is experiencing a situation that is incompatible with international sports participation.
"Considering the malicious actions taken against Iran, we have been imposed upon by two wars in eight or nine months, and thousands of our citizens have died. Therefore, we definitely do not have the option for such participation," he added.
Contradiction with what was announced by FIFA and the United States
The statements made by the Iranian minister contrast with the claims made hours earlier by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss World Cup preparations.
"This afternoon, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup," Infantino wrote on Instagram.
The leader stated that during the meeting they also addressed the situation in Iran and its participation in the tournament.
“During the conversation, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” he stated.
The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11 and will be the first in history to feature 48 participating teams.
According to the scheduled calendar, Iran was set to play its three group stage matches in the United States
-15th of June against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
- June 21 against Belgium, also in Los Angeles.
June 26 against Egypt, in Seattle.
In November last year, the U.S. government had assured that Iranian players and coaching staff would receive visas to enter the country, although visas would not be granted to fans due to national security reasons.
Possible economic and sports sanctions
If the withdrawal is officially confirmed by FIFA, the Iranian federation could face significant economic and disciplinary sanctions.
The regulations for the 2026 World Cup state that if a team withdraws more than 30 days before the tournament begins, the minimum fine would be 250,000 Swiss francs (approximately 323,700 dollars).
If the resignation occurs with less than 30 days' notice, the minimum penalty would amount to 500,000 Swiss francs (around 647,700 dollars).
Additionally, Iran would have to reimburse the funds received from FIFA for the preparation of the tournament.
The FIFA Council approved in December a grant of 1.5 million dollars for each qualified team, intended to cover expenses prior to the World Cup, in addition to 10.5 million dollars for participating in the competition.
These economic penalties could be accompanied by disciplinary measures, such as the exclusion of the Iranian federation from future competitions organized by FIFA.
Who could take Iran's place?
The potential exit of Iran opens the debate about which team could take its place in the tournament. The World Cup regulations leave this decision in the hands of FIFA.
Article 6.7 states that if a federation withdraws or is expelled, "FIFA will decide at its sole discretion and will take the necessary actions," including the possibility of replacing it with another team.
If the number of spots assigned to the Asian Football Confederation remains at 8.5, the main candidate to benefit would be Iraq, which had earned the right to compete in the international playoff.
The match is scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, against the winner of the matchup between Bolivia and Suriname.
If Iraq directly takes Iran's place, the United Arab Emirates could inherit the spot in the Asian playoff, after having lost to the Iraqi team in the regional playoff.
Difficulties for the selections from the region
The instability in the Middle East is already affecting the preparation of several teams.
The Iraqi federation reported logistical problems arising from the regional conflict.
"Due to the closure of airspace, our coach, Graham Arnold, cannot leave the United Arab Emirates," the organization stated in a release posted on Instagram.
The federation also noted difficulties for players and team members to obtain visas.
"Several embassies are currently closed, which prevents various professional players, as well as technical and medical staff, from obtaining entry visas to Mexico," he added.
For now, Iran's withdrawal has not been officially communicated to FIFA, so the team's future in the 2026 World Cup remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, other teams are closely watching the situation in light of the possibility of taking an unexpected spot in the largest competition in world football.
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