The president of the Iranian Football Federation has declared it 'unlikely' that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, following US airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The tournament is set to be hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, with Iran scheduled to play all three group matches in the US.
The airstrikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, have escalated tensions, prompting retaliatory Iranian strikes on US bases in the Middle East. Iranian nationals are already subject to a US travel ban, complicating the team's participation. Mehdi Taj of the IFA stated: 'With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup.'
FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom acknowledged the situation, saying: 'We had a meeting and it’s a bit premature to comment on it in detail. But, of course, we will monitor developments.' He confirmed that FIFA will continue communicating with the three host governments.
Iran have been drawn into Group D alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt, with their opening match scheduled for June 16. Should both Iran and the US advance as runners-up, they could face each other in the round of 32.
Under FIFA rules, a replacement would come from the same confederation, likely the runner-up in Asian qualification. This could see Iraq replace Iran directly, with the United Arab Emirates entering the inter-continental play-off.
