Iran on World Cup 2026: “We’re not participating”, FIFA still expects them to come

Tehran rejects participation

According to Grey Whitebloom’s report for Sports Illustrated, Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television that the team would not take part in a World Cup partly hosted by the United States. He linked that position to the recent U.S. strikes on Iran and the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the conditions for participation no longer existed.

Iran had already qualified for the tournament by finishing top of its Asian qualifying group. It was placed in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and its group matches were scheduled for California and Seattle.

FIFA offers the opposite view

According to Al Jazeera’s report on Gianni Infantino’s comments, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said after meeting Donald Trump that Iran was still welcome to compete in the United States. He framed the World Cup as an event that should bring countries together even during a conflict, leaving FIFA and Tehran publicly at odds within hours of each other.

Sports Illustrated also reported that Trump had struck a much harder tone in separate public remarks, saying he did not care whether Iran took part. The contrast added to the uncertainty around Iran’s status and left the issue looking unresolved rather than settled.

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Group G is caught in the dispute

For now, Iran still has a place in the tournament field, but the public messaging around that place is no longer consistent. Unless FIFA, U.S. officials and Iranian authorities move closer to a common position, one of the World Cup’s qualified teams could head toward kickoff with its participation still under question.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, Al Jazeera, AP.

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