Overview
- Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television there are no conditions under which the national team can participate, citing U.S.-Israeli strikes and the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump told him the Iranian team is welcome to compete in the United States after their meeting on tournament preparations.
- Iran’s federation chief Mehdi Taj earlier voiced serious doubt about sending the team to the tournament given the security situation.
- Iran was the only nation absent from last week’s FIFA planning summit in Atlanta, underscoring operational and travel complications tied to the conflict and U.S. entry restrictions.
- Iran qualified for Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand with all matches scheduled on U.S. soil, and any formal withdrawal could trigger fines and potential replacement under FIFA regulations.