Iran Doubts World Cup Participation After US-Israeli Strikes

Iran's soccer federation president says national team may not be able to play in 2026 World Cup matches in the US following attacks.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The president of Iran's soccer federation, Mehdi Taj, says he is uncertain if the national team can participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States following the recent US and Israeli bombardment of Iran. Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 that 'after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.' Iran was drawn into Group G and scheduled to play matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Why it matters

The potential withdrawal of Iran from the 2026 World Cup would be a significant development, as Iran is a regular participant in the tournament. The escalating tensions between Iran, the US, and Israel raise concerns about the feasibility of Iran's participation and the broader geopolitical implications for the World Cup.

The details

The US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This has thrown the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability. Iran was scheduled to play matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle, as part of the 2026 World Cup.

  • The US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
  • Iran was scheduled to play World Cup matches in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, and in Seattle on June 26, 2026.

The players

Mehdi Taj

The president of Iran's soccer federation.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The former Supreme Leader of Iran, whose killing has thrown the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty.

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What they’re saying

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”

— Mehdi Taj, President of Iran's soccer federation (Varzesh3)

What’s next

FIFA has not yet responded to inquiries about Iran's potential participation in the 2026 World Cup following the recent US-Israeli strikes on the country.

The takeaway

The escalating tensions between Iran, the US, and Israel have cast doubt on Iran's ability to participate in the 2026 World Cup, which could have significant implications for the tournament and geopolitical relations in the region.