Even If Iran Faces FIFA Fines... Sports Minister Says "Players Will Not Be Safe in the U.S."

The Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs has stated that Iran’s national football team will not be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.

According to AP on March 12 (Korean time), Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, said in an interview with Iranian state TV, “Given the situation where our Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been assassinated due to the U.S. invasion, it is impossible for Iran to take part in the World Cup.”

He emphasized, “Our national team players will not be safe in the United States. The U.S. has forced two wars upon us within just eight or nine months, resulting in the deaths and martyrdom of thousands of our people. So it is clearly impossible to participate in this World Cup.” The United States is one of the co-hosts of this World Cup, and Iran has already secured a spot in the finals through the Asian qualifiers.

Iran is scheduled to compete in Group G of the North and Central American World Cup, which kicks off in June, facing Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. Iran will play its first match against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, followed by a second match against Belgium at the same venue on June 21, and the final group match against Egypt in Seattle, Washington on June 26.

World Cup Winning Trophy. Photo by AP News Agency

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Earlier, on March 11, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shared on his Instagram that “Tonight, I met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss preparations for the upcoming World Cup and the mounting excitement with only 93 days left until kickoff. President Trump reaffirmed that the Iranian national team is, of course, welcome to participate in the tournament being held in the United States.” However, with the Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs publicly raising the possibility of withdrawal, the actual participation of the Iranian team has become uncertain.

If Iran, despite having qualified for the World Cup, chooses not to participate, the country will be required to pay a fine to FIFA. If they withdraw more than 30 days before the tournament begins, the minimum penalty is 250,000 Swiss francs (approximately 473 million won). If they withdraw within 30 days of the opening, the minimum fine increases to 500,000 Swiss francs (about 940 million won). In addition, FIFA provides each of the 48 finalist teams with a “preparation cost reimbursement” of 1.5 million dollars, and distributes 9 million dollars to each of the 16 teams eliminated in the group stage. Should Iran withdraw, they will forfeit the chance to receive at least 10.5 million dollars (about 15.5 billion won).

Meanwhile, if both the United States in Group D and Iran in Group G finish second in their respective groups, there is a possibility that the two teams could face each other in the first knockout stage, the Round of 32.

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