The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday that it has not received any official communication from the Iran Football Federation indicating that Iran intends to withdraw from the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Soccer
Iran have already secured qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The team is currently scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and another in Seattle.
Speculation about Iran’s participation intensified after the country’s sports minister reportedly suggested it would be impossible for the national team to attend the tournament following recent U.S. airstrikes carried out alongside Israel against Tehran. The strikes were said to have killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, escalating tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said last week that Iran would be welcome to compete at the World Cup, but expressed concerns about the safety of the team if it participated.
Responding to the situation, AFC General Secretary Windsor John said the continental body had not received any formal withdrawal notice from Iran’s football authorities.
“It’s a very emotional moment. Everybody’s saying a lot of things,” John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
READ ALSO: Nigeria may benefit from Iran’s World Cup pullout
“At the end of the day, it’s the federation that should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup.
“They are our members, and we want them to play. They qualified, and we hope they will resolve whatever issues they have and be able to participate.”
An official withdrawal by Iran from football’s global showpiece would be unprecedented in the modern era and would force FIFA to determine a replacement team for the tournament urgently. Soccer
The 2026 World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19.
Sports Village Square
