Iran’s uncertain participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid US-Israel airstrikes and political tensions
Consensus Summary
Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in limbo following a series of conflicting statements from Iranian officials and US President Donald Trump. After Trump initially assured Fifa president Gianni Infantino that Iran’s team is ‘welcome’ to compete in the US-hosted tournament, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali announced on June 12 that Iran would not attend due to ongoing US-Israel airstrikes, which have killed over 1300 civilians since February. The Iranian government’s decision follows Trump’s contradictory remarks, where he later suggested on Truth Social that Iran’s players would risk their safety by traveling to the US. Iran’s absence from a recent FIFA planning summit in Atlanta further underscores the uncertainty, as the team remains the only qualified nation absent from preparations. While Fifa has emphasized the tournament’s global unity message and rejected postponement, the political fallout—including Iran’s call to remove the US as a host—could force a replacement team under FIFA’s withdrawal regulations. The situation highlights the intersection of sports, diplomacy, and regional conflict, with Iranian fans and players facing economic and personal risks if the team withdraws.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Donald Trump told Fifa president Gianni Infantino on June 11 that Iran’s national soccer team is ‘welcome’ to the 2026 World Cup in the US, per Infantino’s Instagram post and ABC’s reporting
- Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali stated on June 12 that Iran ‘under no circumstances can participate’ in the World Cup due to US-Israel airstrikes, per Guardian (Articles 1,2,4) and ABC (Articles 4,5)
- Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the US: two in Los Angeles (vs. Belgium and New Zealand) and one in Seattle (vs. Egypt), according to Guardian (Articles 1,3) and ABC (Article 5)
- US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28, killing at least 1,300 civilians, per ABC (Article 4) and Guardian (Article 4)
- Iran’s national team was the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit in Atlanta on June 13, per ABC (Article 4) and Guardian (Article 3)
- FIFA regulations state a team withdrawing ‘no later than 30 days before the first match’ faces a fine of at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($448,800), per ABC (Article 4) and Guardian (Article 3)
- Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup in March 2025 after dominating Asian qualifying rounds, per Guardian (Article 1) and ABC (Article 4)
- The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, with matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19, per Guardian (Articles 1,3) and ABC (Articles 4,5)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali was the first government representative to speak on the World Cup since the US began bombing Iran with backing from Israel ‘earlier this month’ (June 2024)
- Fifa’s COO Heimo Schirgi stated the tournament is ‘too big’ to be postponed due to global turmoil caused by the US-Israel war against Iran, per Guardian (Article 3)
- Iran’s football federation posted on Instagram that ‘No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup’ and called for the US to be removed as a host due to Trump’s ‘implicit threat’
- FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize in December 2023, per Guardian (Article 3)
- Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani stated over 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since US-Israel airstrikes began on February 28, per ABC (Article 4)
- Iran had selected Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex as its base camp, with 18 months of preparation at risk, per ABC (Article 4)
- Iran’s interior minister confirmed Australian police helped two Iranian women soccer players claim asylum, though one later returned to Iran, per ABC (Article 4)
- Trump’s June 12 Truth Social post explicitly stated Iran’s team is ‘welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety’
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- Guardian (Article 1) reports Trump said Iran is ‘welcome’ to the World Cup but ‘not appropriate’ for their safety, while ABC (Article 5) frames this as a direct contradiction to Trump’s earlier statement that he ‘really don’t care’ if Iran participates
- Iran’s football federation (via Guardian Article 2) claims ‘No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup,’ directly contradicting Ahmad Donyamali’s official statement that Iran ‘under no circumstances can participate’ (reported in multiple sources)
- Guardian (Article 3) states Trump ‘reiterated’ to Infantino that Iran is ‘welcome,’ while ABC (Article 5) highlights Trump’s Truth Social post as a potential backtracking from this assurance
- ABC (Article 4) reports Iran’s sports minister cited the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a reason for non-participation, but Guardian sources do not emphasize this specific detail in their reporting
- Guardian (Article 1) notes Iran’s three matches are scheduled in the US (LA and Seattle), while ABC (Article 5) only mentions LA and Seattle without specifying the exact match locations (e.g., Inglewood vs. New Zealand/Belgium)
Source Articles
Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’
Participation is in question amid ongoing war Fifa’s Infantino said Trump assured Iran are welcome Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war. “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” the US president said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump says Iran welcome to play World Cup, but risk 'life and safety'
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Infantino insists Trump has assured him Iran are ‘welcome’ to play at 2026 World Cup
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