Here is the latest update on the biggest question currently shaking the football space, which is if Iran will play at the 2026 World Cup.
The conflict in the Middle East has thrown one of football’s biggest questions into uncertainty. Here is the full breakdown.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just weeks away, one question has dominated football headlines around the world: Will Iran actually play? Between contradictory statements from Donald Trump, a defiant declaration from Iran’s sports minister, and FIFA attempting to hold the whole thing together, the situation remains one of the most politically charged in World Cup history. Here is everything you need to know.
Iran secured their place at the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in March 2025, becoming one of the first Asian sides to qualify. They were drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all three of their group stage matches scheduled to take place on US soil, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
However, everything changed on March 1, 2026. US and Israeli forces struck Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In the first twelve days of the war alone, the attacks killed over 1,200 people and wounded more than 12,000 in Iran. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military bases across the region, and suddenly, a football tournament felt like the least of anyone’s concerns.
What Did Iran’s Sports Minister Say?
The most direct statement came from Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, who left little room for ambiguity. Speaking to Iran’s state television, Donyamali said: “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
He went further, adding: “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.”
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has not yet formally confirmed withdrawal, but the sports minister’s words were among the starkest signals yet that Iran’s participation is hanging by a thread.
What did FIFA say about Iran playing at the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, insisting the tournament will go ahead and that Iran remains welcome. After a meeting with President Trump, Infantino wrote on Instagram: “We also 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.”
Infantino added: “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.”
Sources told ESPN that FIFA is prepared to delay any final decision on Iran’s participation until the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30, giving the governing body maximum time to see how the conflict in the region unfolds.
What did Donald Trump say about the 226 World Cup and Iran?
Trump’s position has been notably inconsistent and at times, contradictory. When first asked by Politico, Trump said he “really doesn’t care” if Iran participates, describing Iran as “a very badly defeated country” running “on fumes.”
Then, following Infantino’s positive update, Trump appeared to soften — before muddying the waters again. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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.”
Iran’s national team was quick to fire back. In a statement on social media, the team said: “The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual or country. Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament. Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ cannot yet provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”
What happens if Iran withdraws from the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA’s Article 6.7 of the 2026 World Cup regulations gives the governing body full discretion to replace any withdrawing association or adjust the tournament accordingly. FIFA could replace Iran with another nation or run Group G as a three-team group.
If Iran withdraws, their spot would almost certainly go to another Asian Football Confederation nation, with Iraq being the most likely candidate. However, Iraq are also dealing with their own complications, as airspace in the region remains closed, putting its intercontinental playoff against Bolivia or Suriname on March 31 in jeopardy. Should Iraq receive Iran’s berth directly, the UAE would step into Iraq’s playoff spot.
As things stand, Iran has not officially withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup, but the signals from its government point increasingly toward an exit. FIFA is watching, waiting, and hoping the situation resolves itself before the April 30 Congress deadline. Trump has been contradictory. And Iran’s players, caught in the middle of a geopolitical storm, have defiantly insisted no one can take their place away from them.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City. Whether Iran’s name appears on the team sheet remains, for now, one of football’s most unresolved questions.
