Statement issued on Iran pulling out of 2026 World Cup as replacement named
The president of the Iranian Football Federation has revealed that the country is 'unlikely' to go to World Cup this summer.
Following increasing tensions between the United States and Iran, the Trump administration announced "major combat operations" against the country on February 28.
The USA and Israel have launched several attacks on Iran, claiming it is to prevent the country developing a nuclear weapon, with US President Donald Trump urging Iranians to overthrow their rulers.
Following the strikes, questions have been raised about Iran's participation in the World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer.
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But now, the Iranian Football Federation has released a statement admitting that it is now unlikely that the national team will play in the major competition.
Iran qualified for for its fourth successive World Cup in March 2025 and is currently scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the USA in June.
They face New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, Belgium on the June 21 in the same city; and finally Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
But in the wake of the ongoing conflict with the World Cup hosts, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, has spoken out about the chances of Iran playing in the competition.
Speaking on Tehran (Iranian public television), via Marca, he said: "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."
The head of Iranian soccer also confirmed that the domestic league has been suspended until further notice.
Should Iran be made to withdraw from the World Cup, it is expected that they would be replaced by the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE actually finished with a worse record than Iraq in Asian qualifying, but Iraq are already set to compete in continental play-off against either Bolivia or Suriname later in the spring.
It is also possible that Iraq could take Iran's place at the World Cup, with the UAE replacing Iraq in the play-off match.
The UAE could replace Iran at the World Cup. (Image: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
FIFA release statement on Iran playing at the World
On February 28, just hours after the attacks in Iran, the International Football Association Board met in Wales, with FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom addressing Iran's participation in the World Cup.
"I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did," Grafstrom said, via ESPN.
"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."
Topics: Football, USA, Donald Trump, FIFA World Cup
Ben McCrum