Iran cannot participate in World Cup, minister says
Source: Reuters
Iran cannot participate in World Cup, minister says
By Rohith Nair and Parisa Hafezi
March 11, 2026 9:05 AM EDT Updated 1 hour ago
Summary
* US, Canada and Mexico hosting 48-team tournament
* Iran minister says 'under no circumstances can we participate'
* Iranian team scheduled to play all three group games in US
March 11 (Reuters) - Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the U.S. launched airstrikes alongside Israel, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The attacks killed the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a region-wide conflict. ... "Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," the minister told state television.
The 48-team World Cup will be held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
"Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist," Donyamali said.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/iran-cannot-participate-world-cup-sports-minister-says-2026-03-11/
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/europe/trump-iran-world-cup-fifa-infantino.html
Iran to Skip World Cup, Minister Says, Despite Reported Trump Assurances
The Iranian sports minister said taking part could not be countenanced. The comments came after the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said President Trump had told him Iran would be welcome.
March 11, 2026 Updated 2:17 p.m. ET
The Iranian national soccer team before a match against Uzbekistan in March 2025. Iran qualified months ago for the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.Agence France-Presse � Getty Images
Iran will not participate in this summer�s World Cup, the country�s sports minister said on Wednesday. His remark came just hours after the head of soccer�s governing body, Gianni Infantino, revealed he had received assurances from President Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament despite the war in the Middle East.
The Iranian team qualified months ago for the World Cup, the biggest international sports event to be played in the United States for decades. But Iran�s participation has been the subject of much speculation since the United States and Israel began their military campaign against the Islamic Republic, which prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf and beyond.
Mr. Infantino, a close ally of Mr. Trump, said that he met with the American president on Tuesday evening to discuss broader preparations for tournament, which is scheduled to start in less than 100 days, with 48 teams playing across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Mr. Trump, as part of that discussion, �reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,� Mr. Infantino said in a social media post.
But Iran�s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, told state television that his nation�s team could not countenance taking part, �considering this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader,� referring to the U.S. government and the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last weekend. ... A White House official confirmed Mr. Infantino�s account of the meeting.
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