The future of Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in jeopardy as military conflict between the Islamic Republic and a U.S.-Israeli coalition escalates. Following a weekend of intense aerial bombardment that claimed the life of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian sports officials suggested the national team, known as Team Melli, may not travel to North America for the tournament this June.

The 2026 tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. The current uncertainty comes as the Iranian government declared a 40-day mourning period, effectively halting all national team preparations.

Federation Signals Possible Withdrawal

Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s soccer federation, expressed deep scepticism regarding the team’s ability to compete on American soil given the current hostilities.

"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Taj told the sports portal Varzesh3 on Sunday.

The federation head further underscored the gravity of the situation, noting the strikes on Iranian territory have shifted the national focus away from athletics.

"The U.S. regime has attacked our homeland, and this is an incident that will not go unanswered," Taj said.

Regional Instability and Humanitarian Toll

The military campaign, described by President Donald Trump as "major combat operations," has entered its second day. Iranian authorities report that more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes. In southern Iran, a strike on a girls' school reportedly killed at least 115 people and wounded dozens more, according to the local governor’s statement to Iranian state TV.

In response, Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and regional U.S. allies, including Bahrain and Qatar. Israel has pledged "non-stop" strikes against Iranian military leadership in return. The domestic soccer league has been suspended indefinitely as foreign players begin to flee the country by road.

FIFA and White House Responses

Speaking at a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Wales, FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström addressed the escalation. “I read the news the same way you did this morning," Grafström said. "We had a meeting today and it would be premature to comment on that in detail. But of course we will monitor the developments around all issues around the world. We had a final draw in Washington where all teams participated and of course our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.”

Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House World Cup task force, addressed the conflict on social media on Saturday. "We’ll deal with soccer games tomorrow—tonight, we celebrate their opportunity for freedom," Giuliani wrote on X.

While the Trump administration previously implemented travel bans on Iranian citizens, existing exemptions were intended to allow athletes and coaches to enter the U.S. President Trump has previously mentioned that participants would be considered an exception, though the current violence complicates these diplomatic channels.

Diplomatic Hurdles and Hostile Venues

The relationship between the federation and the hosts was already strained prior to the strikes. In late 2025, the U.S. denied visas to much of Iran’s delegation for the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., leading to boycott threats. While FIFA officials previously cited assurances that all qualified teams would receive entry, those promises predated the current state of war. Furthermore, Iran’s Group G schedule is located entirely within U.S. territory, with matches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Lumen Field in Seattle. FIFA has announced no provisions for relocating these fixtures to neutral venues in Canada or Mexico.

Training in the Crosshairs

Despite the conflict, plans for Iran’s arrival had been well underway. Team Melli was scheduled to be based at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, for their pre-tournament training. Local officials in Los Angeles and Arizona told The Athletic they are monitoring developments but remain in a state of high alert. The relationship between the federation and the hosts was already strained; in late 2025, the U.S. denied visas to much of Iran’s delegation for the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, Iran’s Group G schedule is located entirely within U.S. territory, with matches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Lumen Field in Seattle. FIFA has announced no provisions for relocating these fixtures to neutral venues in Canada or Mexico.

Tournament Logistics at Risk

FIFA historically prioritizes its commitment to “everybody participating,” often separating football from politics. However, the organization maintains a precedent for suspending teams over government interference or extreme security risks. Iran is currently scheduled to play its opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. Subsequent matches against Belgium and Egypt are slated for Los Angeles and Seattle on June 21 and June 26, respectively.

The conflict has already disrupted international sports beyond soccer. The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) announced it has suspended all training, citing "unavoidable disruptions" caused by the security situation. A source within the Israeli team confirmed that athletes have been moving between bomb shelters since the Iranian counterattacks began.

If Iran formally withdraws, FIFA will be forced to name a replacement team—likely the United Arab Emirates, based on qualifying standings—to maintain the 48-team tournament structure.