Iran has threatened to boycott the 2026 World Cup matches over political provocations — Reuters
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated that the national team is prepared to take drastic measures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the minister, the Iranian side has already informed FIFA of its position. If unofficial Iranian flags appear in the stadiums during the games or anti-government slogans directed against the team are heard, head coach Amir Ghaleno will immediately remove the players from the field.
This statement came amid fierce criticism of the national team: in April, during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, activists demanded that Iran be disqualified altogether, claiming that the team represents not the people but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In addition, the Iranian Football Federation reported that a few days before the World Cup began, their fans’ ticket allocation was unexpectedly revoked, meaning people would be unable to enter the stadiums.
Due to the escalating situation in the Middle East and difficulties obtaining U.S. visas, the Iranian national team was forced to relocate its training camp to the Mexican city of Tijuana, as officially confirmed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has allowed Iranian soccer players to cross the U.S. border only one day before each match. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he was not opposed to Iran’s participation, but hinted that playing in the United States could be dangerous for the players’ own safety.
An additional trigger was the match against Egypt in Seattle, scheduled for June 26. Local organizers declared this match a “Pride” event in honor of the city’s LGBT weekend. The Iranian and Egyptian soccer federations jointly appealed to FIFA to block any actions in support of the LGBTQ+ community during the game, assuring that they would not renounce their religious beliefs, culture, and principles. Tehran has now received assurances that no incidents will occur in the stands during this match.
Iran is set to play its first Group G match on June 15 in Los Angeles against New Zealand, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt, Reuters reports.
Earlier, Iran launched a missile strike on the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where U.S. military personnel and contractors were stationed. The attack resulted in minor injuries among personnel and damage to U.S. drones. The incident occurred amid U.S. efforts to negotiate an extension of the ceasefire with Tehran.
