Iran continues to question its involvement in this summer’s World Cup, which it is co-hosting with the United States, which continues to launch military action against Iran, with President Donald Trump threatening to continue military action.
Iran has qualified for this summer’s World Cup, but could still opt out
Iran’s involvement in this summer’s World Cup continues to fall into further doubt after the country’s soccer federation president admitted he was unsure whether Iran would take part given the US military offensive against Iran.
A day after the US and Israel launched airstrikes, Iranian Prime Minister Mehdi Taji admitted: “We cannot look forward to the World Cup with hope.” And as the conflict continues, Iran must decide whether to participate in a World Cup hosted by a country that has begun attacking its own people.
Iran was drawn in Group G at the World Cup in June. If things go as planned, they will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, which has a large Iranian population, and Egypt in Seattle. The United States is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, but the majority of games will be played in the United States.
Iran’s preparations for the tournament will be affected as no matches will be played during the 40-day mourning period for Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in Saturday’s attack.
US President Donald Trump has announced that military action in Iran could last up to four weeks.
read more: FIFA announces Iran withdraws from World Cup after US airstrikeread more: Countries to withdraw from World Cup as Iran ‘ready’ to boycott 2026 US tournament
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“It’s always been a four-week process,” he told the Daily Mail. “I thought it would take about four weeks. It used to be a four-week process, so no matter how strong a country is, it’s a big country so it’s going to take four weeks or less.”
FIFA says it is monitoring the situation, but Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House’s World Cup task force, insisted on social media that the focus was on military action, not the impact on the World Cup. “We will deal with tomorrow’s soccer games, but tonight we celebrate their opportunity for freedom.”
US President Donald Trump claims airstrikes will continue for weeks
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Political tensions between Iran and the US continue, with fans from Iran already banned from entering the US in the first round of travel bans announced by the Trump administration. Only team coaches and players will be exempt from entry visas.
The BBC reported that if Iran boycotts the tournament, it could be replaced with an alternative team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). In any case, Iraq, which can qualify for the continental playoffs at the end of the month, or the UAE, who did not qualify, will be the favorites to win.
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