Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has become uncertain after the United States and Israel launched an attack in the West Asian country, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran are part of Group G in the FIFA World Cup along with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled in American cities of Los Angeles and Seattle from 16 June, but the recent attacks on the country by the USA have put their participation in doubt.

No Iran in FIFA World Cup 2026?

The president of Iran’s football federation has declared that the national team most likely won’t take part in the football World Cup.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3.

The US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability.

The US is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the US in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

FIFA is yet to react to the uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the World Cup.

With AP inputs