Iran will not participate at the 2026 North American World Cup, according to the country's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali.
Iran's participation in the tournament co-hosted by the United States has been in doubt after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The military campaign killed the nation's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of top officials. Iran has responded with attacks on several U.S. military facilities and other targets around the Middle East.
Amid the growing conflict, Donyamali said that it was not feasible for Iran to send a team to the United States in just three months.
“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told state television. “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.
