Overview
- Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television the national team can under no circumstances participate, citing U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security concerns.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he met President Donald Trump, who reiterated Iran would be welcome to compete in the United States despite the war.
- Iran qualified and was drawn into Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle, but the federation skipped last week’s FIFA planning summit in Atlanta.
- FIFA regulations allow fines and possible expulsion or replacement if a team withdraws, and reporting points to Iraq or the United Arab Emirates as potential AFC replacements at FIFA’s discretion.
- A FIFA spokesperson and local organizers say Iran has not formally pulled out, as organizers assess visas, security and travel logistics already disrupted for other teams such as Iraq.