Iran Pulls Out of 2026 World Cup: Donyamali Says His Country Will Not Play in USA-Hosted Event
Iran has announced that it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The decision was confirmed by Iranian Sports Minister Ahmed Donyamali, who stated that the country would not take part in the tournament.
In his remarks, Donyamali explained that ongoing conflicts with Israel and the United States made it impossible for Iran to attend the competition. He also noted that Iran did not participate in the FIFA World Cup participants’ summit held in Atlanta last week.
Following the official draw, Iran had been placed in Group G, with all three of its matches scheduled to be played in the United States, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
The announcement now removes Iran from the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The decision marks a significant development in the lead-up to the World Cup, as Iran has traditionally been a regular participant in recent editions of the tournament.
