“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told state television. He added that the security of Iranian athletes could not be guaranteed, and the conditions for participation “fundamentally” do not exist.
The 48-team tournament is scheduled to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with all three matches slated in the U.S.—two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran dominated the Asian qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the tournament last year, but it was notably absent from a FIFA planning summit for participants in Atlanta last week. Donyamali cited multiple conflicts imposed on Iran over the past eight to nine months, which he said had resulted in the deaths of thousands of Iranian civilians. According to Iran’s U.N. ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed since the airstrikes began on February 28.
Iran had selected Tucson, Arizona’s Kino Sports Complex as its World Cup base camp, leaving months of preparation and potential economic investments in jeopardy. Tickets purchased by Iranian fans could also face a large resale market should the team officially withdraw.
FIFA regulations stipulate that teams withdrawing less than 30 days before the tournament’s start face fines of at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($320,800), and may face disciplinary measures, including expulsion from future competitions or replacement by another nation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said earlier that he met with U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly welcomed Iran’s participation. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.
Separately, the ongoing conflict has disrupted warm-up matches for the Iranian team, according to a source in Tehran. The war has also heightened risks for female Iranian players: earlier this week, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five women players who sought asylum after refusing to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match. On Wednesday, Australian authorities helped two additional players claim asylum, although one later chose to return to Iran, the country’s interior minister said.
The situation leaves Iran’s World Cup plans uncertain and underscores the intersection of geopolitics and global sport in a conflict that continues to reverberate across the Middle East.