Iran Officially Withdraws from the 2026 World Cup
Iran's national team has officially decided to withdraw from the 2026 World Cup. The decision was announced by Iran's Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, in an interview with Iranian television.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled for June 2026 across three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran's withdrawal is one of the most shocking decisions in the history of the world's biggest football tournament.
In the group draw, Iran was placed in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All matches in that group were scheduled to take place in the United States.
Reason: US-Israel Conflict and Khamenei's Death
The withdrawal follows US and Israeli military strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026, which remain ongoing. The strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Given that the corrupt American regime has killed our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Donyamali said, as reported by Al Jazeera. He explained the decision was not only about politics but also considered the safety of Iran's national team players and officials.
"Our people are not safe, and fundamentally the conditions for such participation do not exist. Given the evil actions they have committed against Iran," Donyamali said. He added the conflict of recent months had taken a heavy toll, including civilian casualties.
Infantino Gave Assurances, Trump Changed Course
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously confirmed that Iran could play at the World Cup in the United States after receiving approval from US President Donald Trump. Infantino said football should unite the world and thanked Trump for his support.
But Trump's stance later shifted to outright rejection. Via the social media platform X on 12 March 2026, Trump suggested Team Iran should not play in the United States — arguing it was for the safety and lives of the Iranian players themselves.
FIFA could actually have worked out a solution to keep Iran in the tournament, for instance by moving all of coach Amir Ghalenoei's team's fixtures to Mexico or Canada. But Iran appears to be standing firm on its decision to withdraw.
FIFA Seeks a Replacement: Iraq and UAE in the Frame
If the boycott is final, FIFA has the authority to appoint a replacement team for Iran. Iraq and the United Arab Emirates have emerged as the two strongest candidates, with the choice based on their performances during the qualifying rounds.
Iran's withdrawal adds to the long list of geopolitical conflicts spilling into the sporting world. The US-Iran tensions that have escalated since early 2026 are not only shaking the Middle East but have now redrawn the map of World Cup 2026 competition — less than three months before the tournament kicks off.
