play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftUS-Israel war on IranLive trackerCould the US deploy troops to Iran?Iran’s weaponsCould Iran be using China's BeiDou system?A simple guide to Irancaret-rightSport|US-Israel war on IranIran still playing in World Cup 2026 despite withdrawal rumours, AFC saysAsian Football Confederation says it hasn’t received any notification of Iran pulling out of upcoming World Cup. Listen to this article | 2 minsinfoIranian national team players before an AFC third-round qualifier against the UAE at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran on March 20, 2025 [Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and ReutersPublished On 16 Mar 202616 Mar 2026Click here to share on social mediashare2Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoThe Asian Football Confederation (AFC) says it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national football team from the FIFA World Cup 2026. Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting on June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran’s sports minister has said it was impossible for the players to participate in the tournament after the US launched air strikes with Israel against Iran, killing its supreme leader. US President Donald Trump said last week that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but he believed it was not appropriate that they be there “for their own life and safety”. “It’s a very emotional moment.
Everybody’s saying a lot of things,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John told reporters on Monday in Kuala Lumpur. “At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup. “They are our member.
We want them to play. You know, they qualified, … so we hope that they will solve their issues, whatever it is, and be able to participate.” An official withdrawal by Iran from football’s global showpiece would be the first in the modern era and would leave FIFA with the urgent task of finding a replacement. It is unclear whether FIFA would have time to replace Iran should they decide to withdraw from the 2026 tournament.
One option could be choosing the highest ranked team in Asia that did not make it into the tournament. Iran’s Group G could also play out with special rules with three teams instead of four.
