FIFA has discretion deciding how to replace Iran in the World Cup
Iran’s sports minister says his country will not participate in this summer’s World Cup following attacks on the country by the United States, one of the tournament’s hosts.
The U.S. bombing campaign against Iran, which began two weeks ago, has sparked a region-wide conflict and killed more than 1,300 Iranians, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, according to Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani.
“Considering that this corrupt regime assassinated our leader, we cannot participate in the World Cup under any circumstances,” Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television on Wednesday.
“Our players have no security and, basically, the conditions for participation do not exist.”
Donyamali’s statement came just hours after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from President Trump that Iran would be allowed to participate in the tournament, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is of course welcome to participate in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote in an Instagram post. “Now more than ever we need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support.”
Last year, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the issuance of visas to nationals of 19 countries, including Iran, although the State Department can make exceptions for “participants in certain major sporting events” like the World Cup.
Iran, which has appeared in the last three World Cups, earned its place in this summer’s tournament by topping its group in the Asian Confederations Tournament. However, he did not send a representation to last week’s World Cup planning summit in Atlanta.
Iran has been included in Group G for the World Cup and is scheduled to begin play on June 15 against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Iran’s second group stage match, against Belgium, is also scheduled at SoFi Stadium before the team completes the first leg of the tournament against Egypt in Seattle.
According to The Athletic, no country has withdrawn from a World Cup after qualifying since the 1950 tournament in Brazil, when India, Scotland, France and Turkey withdrew, primarily for cost and logistical reasons.
Donyamali did not say whether he had started the formal process or had withdrawn Iran from the World Cup, but FIFA could face a time crunch if it had to replace Iran among the 48 teams. Article 6.7 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Regulations states: “If a participating member association withdraws and/or is excluded from the 26 FIFA World Cup, FIFA will decide the matter at its sole discretion and take any action deemed necessary. FIFA may decide to replace the participating member association in question with another association.
The most likely replacement scenario would be for Iraq, the first non-qualified country in the Asian confederation, to take Iran’s place. Iraq is expected to face the winner of the Suriname-Bolivia qualifier in Mexico later this month for a final World Cup berth, but with the airspace over the Middle East closed because of the war, the Iraqis are unsure how they will reach Mexico. Giving them Iran’s place would solve this problem, but it would create another; who would replace Iraq in the play-offs against the winner of Suriname-Bolivia? Based on the Asian qualifying tournament, the United Arab Emirates would be the most likely candidate, but they would also face travel issues getting to Mexico.
FIFA could leave these playoffs intact and give Iran’s spot to 13th-ranked Italy.th around the world, but must win the four-team UEFA qualifiers later this month to qualify for the World Cup. Basically, FIFA can do whatever it wants.
FIFA regulations state that any team that withdraws from the tournament “no later than 30 days before the first match” will be fined and could face other “disciplinary sanctions”, including expulsion from subsequent FIFA competitions. This summer’s World Cup kicked off June 11 in Mexico City and Toronto. The U.S. opener is scheduled for June 12 in Inglewood.
Earlier this week, six members of Iran’s delegation to the Women’s Asian Cup were granted humanitarian visas and allowed to stay in Australia rather than return to Iran where they feared persecution for failing to sing the national anthem during the tournament.
