Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 11:52pm, 11 Mar 2026Updated: 11:54pm, 11 Mar 2026Iran cannot take part in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the United States launched air strikes against the country alongside Israel, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran almost two weeks ago, killing the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, leading to a region-wide conflict in the Gulf.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television.
The 48-team World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
