Iran is scheduled to begin their World Cup play against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — With the World Cup set to kick off in three months, Iranian officials are saying that the team won’t take part in the event.
Iran’s sports minister said the country cannot take part in the upcoming World Cup because of the attacks from the United States.
Ahmad Donyamali told Iranian state TV that, “Due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran – they have imposed two wars on us over just eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people – definitely it’s not possible for us to take part in the World Cup.”
Earlier in the day, Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s Football Federation, raised doubts about whether Iran would take part in the event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke to President Donald Trump earlier this week. When asked about the conversation, Infantino said, “We spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los Angeles for two games — where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively — before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Infantino also said, “We all need an event like the FIFA 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.”
The United States is hosting the tournament along with Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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