Iran has threatened to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid escalating tensions with the United States, casting doubt over the country’s participation in football’s biggest tournament.

Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said on Wednesday that the country cannot take part in the tournament following recent US and Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, further deepening the regional crisis, according to a Reuters report.

“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Mr Donyamali said in an interview with Iranian state television.

He noted that the current security situation makes it difficult for Iran to contemplate travelling to the competition.

“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.

“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence,” he said.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Iran has already qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament.

During the draw held last December, Iran was placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. All three of Iran’s group matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, with two fixtures set for Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Iran was also the only qualified team absent from a FIFA planning meeting for participating nations held in Atlanta last week, further fuelling speculation about a possible withdrawal from the tournament.

FIFA has yet to issue an official response to the minister’s remarks.