New Delhi, March 16: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has stated that it has not received any formal notification from Iran regarding a potential withdrawal of its national football team from the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
Speculation about Iran’s participation began after the Iranian sports minister suggested that the team might not be able to compete following airstrikes on Tehran conducted in collaboration with the United States and Israel. These attacks reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
AFC Secretary-General Windsor John mentioned that the governing body has only been informed that Iran still plans to participate in the tournament.
John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, “This is a very emotional moment. Everyone is saying a lot. Ultimately, it is up to the federation to decide whether they will play or not, and as of today, the federation has informed us that they are going to the World Cup. They are our members, and we want them to play. They have qualified, so we hope they will resolve their issues, whatever they may be, and participate in the tournament.”
The upcoming FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Iranian team has already qualified for this tournament featuring 48 teams. According to the schedule, they will play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Notably, a few days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump clarified that Iran would be allowed to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. However, he also indicated that it might not be advisable to do so for security reasons.
The Iranian national football team has completely dismissed these comments, asserting that no country has the right to prevent them from participating in a tournament organized by FIFA. Should Iran formally withdraw from the tournament, FIFA will need to find a replacement team as soon as possible.
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