Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-hosts the United States carried out airstrikes against the country along with Israel, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran nearly two weeks ago, killing the top leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and sparking a crisis across the Gulf region.
“Given that this corrupt administration has killed our leader, we cannot participate in the World Cup under any circumstances,” the minister told national television.
The 48-team World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
“Our children are not safe and, basically, such conditions of participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
