Iran to Boycott 2026 FIFA World Cup, Says Sports Minister Despite FIFA Assurance

Iran to Boycott 2026 FIFA World Cup, Says Sports Minister Despite FIFA Assurance

Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has announced that the country will boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite assurances from world football’s governing body that Iran remains welcome to participate.

Donyamali made the disclosure during a televised interview with state media, citing the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel as the main reason for the decision.

The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Tensions escalated after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in what Iranian authorities described as a joint military operation by the United States and Israel. Iran subsequently retaliated by launching attacks on several American military bases in the Middle East.

Iran had secured qualification for the 2026 tournament in March last year after finishing among the top two teams in Group A of the Asian qualifying series. However, speculation over its participation intensified after the country failed to attend a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held in Atlanta.

Speaking during the interview, Donyamali ruled out the possibility of Iran taking part in the tournament under the current circumstances.

“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” he said.

“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”

If Iran proceeds with the boycott, it would join a small group of countries that have withdrawn from the FIFA World Cup in the past despite qualifying or having the opportunity to participate.

In 1934, Uruguay refused to defend the title it won at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, boycotting the tournament hosted by Italy in protest after several European nations had earlier declined to travel to South America for the first edition.

Similarly, India and Turkey withdrew from the 1950 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. India’s withdrawal was largely linked to financial and logistical difficulties as well as the country’s focus on the Olympic Games, while Turkey cited the high cost and difficulty of travelling to South America at the time.

France also pulled out of the 1950 tournament after initially qualifying, reportedly due to concerns over travel distances and scheduling challenges associated with the competition.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, with matches scheduled across multiple cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

It remains unclear whether FIFA will take any further steps if Iran formally confirms its decision to withdraw from the competition.