The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) president, Mehdi Taj, has disclosed that the country is reconsidering their participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This comes amid the increased tensions between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump’s administration announced “major combat operations” against the country on February 28.
Israel and the USA launched several attacks on Iran, with claims that the attack was to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon, as Donald Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their rulers.
More questions are now being raised about Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup, with the FFIRI admitting that it is now unlikely.
The Islamic Republic picked up their fourth consecutive World Cup ticket in March 2025, and are scheduled to play all their group matches in the United States in June.
They begin their campaign at the Mundial against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium six days later in the same city. Their final group game will be against the Pharaohs of Egypt on June 26.
Mehdi Taj has opened up on the country’s chances of participating at the global showpiece. Speaking on the Iranian Public Television, Tehran, via Marca, Taj said:
“With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.”
The football administrator also confirmed that all domestic football activities in the country have been suspended till further notice.
UAE to replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup?
Meanwhile, there are reports that the United Arab Emirates would standby as the replacement, should Iran withdraw from the competition.
Although the UAE finished with a worse record than Iraq in the Asian qualifying, Iraq are already participating at the inter-continental play-off, where they will play against either Bolivia or Suriname later in the spring.
: Iran are considering withdrawing from the World Cup after the strikes today.
All their 3 group games are scheduled to be played in the United States.
— @marca pic.twitter.com/qKN1RCwLMG
— The Touchline | (@TouchlineX) February 28, 2026
There is also a possibility that Iraq replaces Iran at the World Cup, with the UAE replacing Iraq in the play-off match.
Hours after the attacks in Iran, the International Football Association Board met in Wales, with FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom addressing Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
Grafstrom told ESPN:
“I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did. We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.
“We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating.
“We will continue to communicate as we always do with three [host] governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.”
