Iran withdraws from 2026 World Cup, sports minister says
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- Iran withdraws from 2026 FIFA World Cup following US-'Israel' attacks.
- Sports minister says participation is impossible under current circumstances, citing casualties from the war.
Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Dinyamali, announced Wednesday that the country will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Reaction to US-'Israel' Attacks
The decision comes in response to recent US-'Israel' strikes that resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Since this corrupt system [the United States] has killed our leader, we will not participate in the World Cup under any circumstance," Dinyamali said in a statement to state television.
Read more: Trump says Iran “welcome” to play in World Cup: FIFA chief
The minister added that the current conditions make participation unsafe, noting that around 1,255 deaths and over 12,000 injured have been reported in the first twelve days of the war that began on February 28.
Impact on Scheduled Matches
Iran’s group-stage matches were set to take place in U.S. cities including Los Angeles and Seattle. FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously welcomed Iran’s participation, and Iran had been the first country to secure official qualification for the tournament starting June 11.
Domestic Debate
This official withdrawal follows earlier skepticism from the head of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, who questioned the prudence of sending the national team under the current conditions. "Who in their right mind would send their national team to such a place?" Taj asked.
