"Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television. The US flag flies near a football stadium at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, where the Iranian national team is scheduled to practise for the World Cup."
"The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off in three months, but what was set to be one of the most straightforward editions to organise in the tournament's history appears to be growing more complicated by the day. The Israeli-United States war on Iran has created massive uncertainty across the globe, and FIFA's showpiece event is already feeling the ramifications."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, faces significant complications despite being considered one of the easiest tournaments to organize. The Israeli-United States conflict with Iran has created substantial uncertainty affecting the competition. Iran's sports minister declared the country cannot participate in the World Cup after the US killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. All of Iran's group matches are scheduled in US cities, creating additional complications. The conflict has resulted in over 1,255 deaths in Iran and 12,000 wounded, with Iran retaliating against US and Israeli targets. FIFA President Gianni Infantino indicated that US President Donald Trump supports Iran's participation, though Iran's government has rejected this possibility.
#fifa-world-cup-2026 #iran-participation #us-iran-conflict #political-tensions #international-sports-diplomacy
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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