Iran Threatens Boycott of 2026 World Cup Amid Tensions with U.S.

Iran's sports minister says the national team 'certainly' cannot participate in the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:21am

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is facing a potential crisis as Iran signals a possible boycott of the tournament. Tensions between Iran and the U.S. following recent military actions have led to calls within Iran to withdraw from the competition, raising significant questions about the tournament's neutrality and FIFA's ability to navigate geopolitical conflicts.

Why it matters

Iran's potential withdrawal would create logistical and geopolitical challenges for FIFA, forcing them to consider potential replacements and address concerns about the tournament's impartiality. The situation tests FIFA's commitment to keeping the World Cup insulated from political interference.

The details

Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, stated that the nation 'certainly' cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup given the current circumstances, stemming from recent U.S. military attacks on Iranian soil. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, also questioned the feasibility of sending the national team to the U.S. due to the increasingly political climate.

  • Iran qualified for the World Cup last year and was scheduled to play group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The players

Ahmad Donyamali

Iran's sports minister who stated that the nation 'certainly' cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup.

Mehdi Taj

President of the Iranian Football Federation who questioned the feasibility of sending the national team to the U.S. due to the increasingly political climate.

Gianni Infantino

FIFA President who acknowledged the situation and stated that U.S. President Donald Trump assured him that the Iranian team 'is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.'

Donald Trump

U.S. President who previously expressed indifference regarding Iran's participation in the World Cup, stating, 'I really don't care' whether Iran participates or not.

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What they’re saying

“Given that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the conditions to participate in the World Cup.”

— Ahmad Donyamali, Iran's sports minister

“I really don't care whether Iran participates in the World Cup or not.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

A final decision from Iran regarding their participation in the 2026 World Cup is still pending, and further developments in the geopolitical landscape and ongoing discussions between Iranian officials and FIFA will determine whether the tournament will proceed with or without the Iranian national team.

The takeaway

The potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup by Iran highlights the increasing intersection of sports and politics on the global stage, and the challenges FIFA faces in keeping the tournament insulated from geopolitical conflicts.