The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just over 100 days, and the teams are gearing up for the final preparations. Iran, which has already secured its place at the tournament this summer, is reconsidering its travel plans.
Iran Plans To Boycott FIFA World Cup
Iran qualified for the FIFA World Cup after topping the Asian Football Confederation Group, winning seven and losing just once in their 10 qualifier matches. They have been drawn into Group C with Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt.
However, recent events in the country, which saw the United States and Israel launch a ‘pre-emptive’ strike on Iran last week, resulted in the death of their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The news was confirmed on Sunday, March 1, following which their participation in the summer tournament was in question.
Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj has announced that they will not be heading to the United States this summer for the FIFA World Cup. He said that a final decision has not yet been taken, but as things stand, they are unlikely to go ahead.
“With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.”
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FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom has also announced that they are monitoring the situation, but is unsure what steps need to be taken next. He was more interested in talking about the safety at the World Cup in the summer than Iran’s possible boycott and said:
“I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did. We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.
“We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. We will continue to communicate as we always do with three [host] governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.”
Iran was scheduled to play two matches in Los Angeles – against Belgium and New Zealand – and one game in Seattle against Egypt. All their matches were to be played in the United States, a country they are unwilling to travel to as things stand.
Should Iran go ahead with its decision to boycott the World Cup, FIFA could award the spot to Iraq, which is in the continental play-offs, and give it to the UAE, which missed out on qualification.
