Iran Confirms Readiness to Participate in 2026 World Cup

Iran's national football team is preparing to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite earlier conflicting statements about a possible withdrawal. This was reported by the Associated Press.

'The Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy issued a statement on the full readiness of our national football team to participate in the World Cup in the United States in 2026, in accordance with the minister's order,' said Iranian government spokesperson Fotima Mo'hajeroniy on Wednesday on Iranian state television.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali had previously stated that the team's participation would only be allowed if security is guaranteed, and a final decision had not been made. In March, a more definitive statement about withdrawal was made, but later, the head of the federation, Mehdi Toj, denied the boycott and announced that negotiations were underway with FIFA to move the matches from the United States to Mexico.

The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran is in the same group as Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand and will have to play all its group stage matches on US soil.