Iran to boycott FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali says decision comes in response to assassination of the country’s Supreme Leader, adding that safety of Iranian players cannot be guaranteed in United States

TEHRAN: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 11th, 2026) Iran officially announced that it will boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.

Iranian sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said the decision comes in response to the assassination of the country’s Supreme Leader, adding that the safety of Iranian players cannot be guaranteed in the United States.

“In these circumstances, participating in the World Cup is not justifiable. Our players are not safe, and conditions are not conducive for competing,” he said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be held across three countries.

This boycott comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and United States, raising questions about the participation of other nations in the tournament.