Iran has become the first country to pull out of the 2026 World Cup. The country’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, says they will not take part in the tournament this summer.
According to Donyamali, this decision is because of attacks by the United States and Israel, which resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The conflict has now involved other countries in the Middle East, with Iran responding by attacking US military bases in the region.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico between June and July.
Iran was scheduled to play against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, and against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
However, Donyamali said that Iran will not go to America for the tournament, and he stressed that there is “no possibility” the team will take part.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said in a television interview.
