Iran Considers Withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup

According to press reports, led by the Spanish newspaper Marca, Iran is seriously considering withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following a widespread bombing campaign by American and Israeli forces on territories within the Islamic Republic.

According to statements by the President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, on state television, he said, ‘The current situation makes it difficult to calmly think about participating in the tournament,’ emphasizing that the final decision lies with the sports authorities within Iran.

The Iranian national team had qualified for the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time and is scheduled to play its three group stage matches against New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium (June 21) in Los Angeles, then Egypt (June 26) in Seattle.

For its part, FIFA confirmed that it is following the situation ‘closely,’ but added that it is too early to provide details or take a final stance, stressing the need to ensure the safety of the participants in the tournament.

Iran’s participation in the World Cup remains uncertain so far, with the continued military escalation and its impact on sports in the country, and whether the Iranian federation will officially announce its withdrawal in the coming hours or days.