Iran appear likely to be replaced at the World Cup.
United States president Donald Trump has advised Iran not to compete in the 2026 World Cup in North America, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Iran qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup, breezing through AFC qualification and losing just one game in their third round group.
However, with Iran being bombed by the United States and Israel as part of a war that has spread to several Gulf states, there appears to be no chance of its national team competing in the World Cup.
Recent figures suggest over 1,255 people have been killed in the conflict and another 12,000 wounded.
The overwhelming majority of those are from Iran, and include the country’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died following an airstrike on Tehran on February 28.
Iranian minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday he cannot envisage a situation where Iran would now play in the global showpiece.
“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” he told state television.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.
“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and are scheduled to play two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
But, after FIFA president Gianni Infantino made it clear Iran would still be welcome at the tournament, Trump issued a warning that the team would be better off not participating.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Infantino confirmed in an earlier post on Instagram that he had spoken with Trump about the issue.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”
Should Iran withdraw from the tournament, then their place will likely be taken by the next highest-ranked team from the AFC confederation that failed to qualify.
Iraq is set to face either Bolivia or Suriname in an interconfederation play-off on March 31.
Should Iraq lose, then they would be in line to take Iran’s place. If Iraq prevail in the play-off, then the United Arab Emirates would be the likely candidates to take the spot.
