Infantino left red-faced as Iran minister says they will not participate in the World Cup 'under any circumstances'

FT Desk

• 11 Mar 2026 11:30 CDT
• 3 min read

News

It looks like Iran's 2026 World Cup fate has been decided as the nation's sports minister says they will not participate in the tournament "under any circumstances."

Iran were scheduled to play in the World Cup and were set to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle.

However, the nation's participation was called into question after it became involved in a conflict with one of the host nations, the United States.

The USA, in partnership with Israel, bombed Tehran and other locations in Iran almost two weeks ago. Iran retaliated by bombing Israel as well as locations of USA army bases in the Middle East.

US president Donald Trump previously claimed he did not care if Iran were in the World Cup or not.

That led to FIFA president Gianni Infantino saying today on social media:

"This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days," Infantino said.

"We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the World Cup. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.

"We all need an event like the World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world."

However, he has been left red-faced as Iran have no intention of being at the World Cup finals.

"Considering that ‌this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances ⁠can we ​participate in ​the World ​Cup," sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told Iran's state television on Wednesday.

"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."

Since Infantino awarded Trump with FIFA's inaugural 'Peace Prize', the American president has ordered high-profile assaults or bombings in Venezuela and Iran, among other acts of aggression.

Last Tuesday, a summit for all World Cup competing nations was held in Atlanta and nobody from Iran was present.

Not long after the bombings, Iran football federation president Mehdi Taj said "With what happened... and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that."

Should Iran not participate, they will be replaced by another country from that region, with Iraq and the United Arab Emirates the favourites to win their spot, though Iraq could qualify anyway via an intercontinental playoff.

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