Iran’s football team may not compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to escalating tensions in the region. The country’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, announced on March 11, 2026, that Iran would withdraw from the competition following the assassination of their supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by the United States. The withdrawal stems from the ongoing war in West Asia, where Iran is engaged in a conflict with the US and Israel. The US, which will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, is also where all of Iran’s group-stage games are scheduled to take place, including in cities like Los Angeles and Seattle.
FIFA has yet to confirm Iran’s official withdrawal from the tournament, but if this happens, a team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be called upon to replace Iran in Group G, where they are placed alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The frontrunners to step in are Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both strong teams in the AFC. Iraq is currently the highest-ranked Asian team that has yet to qualify and is scheduled to face Bolivia or Suriname in an inter-confederation play-off final on March 31, 2026. If Iraq wins, they will most likely replace Iran in the tournament.
Iran’s sports officials have expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the World Cup’s location in the United States, where they believe conditions are unsafe due to the ongoing conflict. In a statement, Donyamali said, “Our children are not safe, and fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.” Additionally, Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's Football Federation (FFIRI), echoed similar sentiments, stating that the Iranian football team could not, in good conscience, participate under the current circumstances.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously offered support, stating that the US was open to Iran’s participation in the tournament despite the current hostilities. However, with mounting pressure and the intensity of the conflict, Iran’s withdrawal seems likely. The football community is now closely monitoring who will take Iran’s place and how FIFA will handle this unprecedented situation. As of now, the AFC awaits the final confirmation from FIFA and hopes that Iraq, one of its strongest representatives, will secure a spot.
