Iranian Minister of Sports Ahmad Donyamali stated on Wednesday that Iran cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the United States killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader and triggering a wide-scale regional conflict in the Gulf.

The minister told state television, “Since this corrupt regime, the United States, has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”

The World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

He added, “Our children are not safe, and the conditions are not suitable for participation at this time.”

He continued, “Considering the malicious acts they have carried out against Iran, they forced us into two wars over eight or nine months and caused thousands of our people to be killed or martyred. Therefore, we definitely cannot participate.”

The draw placed Iran in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. Iran is set to play all three of its group matches in the United States, with two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

If both the United States and Iran finish second in their groups, the teams could meet in a knockout match on July 3 in Dallas.

Iran was the only country absent from the World Cup planning summit for participants, held last week by FIFA in Atlanta.

Iran Will Not Participate in the World Cup Under Any Circumstances (AFP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump had promised him, during a meeting, that the Iranian national team would be welcomed at the World Cup scheduled for next summer.

Infantino wrote on his Instagram account, “During our talks, President Trump reaffirmed that the Iranian team is certainly welcome to participate in the tournament in the United States,” which is co-hosting the event with its neighbors Canada and Mexico.