Iran will not compete at this summer’s World Cup, the country’s sports minister has confirmed, ruling out any possibility of participation in a tournament hosted by the United States — the nation currently engaged in active military conflict with Tehran.
Ahmad Donyamal made the announcement in a television interview on Wednesday, delivering the clearest statement yet on Iran’s position after weeks of mounting uncertainty over the team’s involvement. “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.”
The confirmation ends speculation that had been building since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran late last month, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with attacks on US-allied Gulf states, pushing the conflict into its second week. The head of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, had already indicated it was “unlikely that we can look forward to the cup,” but Donyamal’s statement removes any remaining doubt.
Iran had been due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The team had been scheduled to use the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona as their base for the duration of the tournament. Those plans are now entirely redundant.
The development comes despite assurances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Trump had personally confirmed the Iranian team would be “welcome” to compete. In a statement, Infantino said the US president had “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament.” Trump himself, when asked about Iran’s participation by Politico, was less diplomatic, saying simply: “I really don’t care.”
Iran had earned their place at a fourth consecutive World Cup by finishing top of Group A in Asian qualifying, establishing themselves as one of the continent’s strongest sides. The tournament runs across the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.
FIFA has not yet confirmed what steps will be taken regarding Iran’s now-vacant place in the group stage, and whether a replacement nation will be called upon is expected to be addressed by the governing body in the coming days.
