Iran to Boycott 2026 FIFA World Cup, Says Sports Minister

Donya Mali, Iran's Sports Minister, declared that Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. This decision follows a series of military actions that have reportedly led to the deaths of thousands of people in Iran.

Mali emphasized that there are no conditions under which Iran would participate in the World Cup, viewing the situation as a malicious measure taken against the country. Despite Iran's qualification for the tournament through a strong performance in the Asian qualifiers last year, the minister stated that the country would join others in boycotting the World Cup due to the threats posed by U.S. military actions.

This announcement came after Iran's absence from a FIFA summit regarding World Cup participation held in Atlanta.