Iran will not play at 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after the United States killed their leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said. The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, killing the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader and triggering a region-wide conflict in the Gulf.

“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told state television. “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.

Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.” Donyamali’s comments followed remarks from Fifa president Gianni Infantino that Donald Trump had said Iran were “welcome” to play at the upcoming World Cup.

Iran, Gulf

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