Iran is considering withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, following a joint US-Israeli air strike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian Football Federation’s president, Mehdi Taj, expressed doubts about the team’s participation, stating, “What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope”.
Iran had qualified for the tournament, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and was drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. Their matches are set to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle.
FIFA has not made an official statement but is “monitoring developments”. If Iran withdraws, potential replacements could be the United Arab Emirates or Iraq, following FIFA’s rules.
