Iran’s sports minister has confirmed that the Middle Eastern country won’t be participating in this summer’s World Cup as conflict with the United States continues.
Ahmad Donyamali spoke in a television interview about the country’s decision ahead of football’s biggest tournament, with their position in doubt since Donald Trump launched strikes against Iran last month.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said in a television interview.
“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.”
Donyamali’s statement comes just hours after FIFA chief Gianni Infantino claimed that he had received assurances from US president Donald Trump that the Iranian team are ‘welcome to compete at this summer’s World Cup.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
He added: “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
