Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup is looking almost certain after a farewell ceremony was held in the capital of Tehran.
Both the president of the football federation and the ministry of sport poured doubt over Iran joining up after the joint US-Israeli attack on the country that resulted in the killing of Supreme Mojtaba Khamenei and is still ongoing.
Yet having already held a fitness check in Tehran with the Iranian league on pause, the players have since taken to the Revolution Square in Tehran to say goodbye to the crowd.
The president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, were present, and said: “The national team players at the World Cup will represent the people, the country’s fighters, the leader (Supreme Mojtaba Khamenei, editor’s note) and the country.
“Our national team is a national football team in wartime, it will be a pillar of authority and resistance.”
Some posters of Khamenei were held by participants in the crowd.
Another sign referenced the men’s and women’s teams recently boycotting the national anthem.
It read: “For the blood of the martyrs, sing the national anthem firmly and without hesitation.”
Iran’s World Cup stance
All three of Iran’s matches will be played in the US, despite the tournament also taking place in Mexico and Canada.
The national is also scheduled to play Egypt in a pre-determined ‘Pride Match’ despite homosexuality being punishable by death in Iran.
Taj had already doubted Iran’s participation, and the minister for sport, Ahmad Doyanmali later doubled down.
“Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” he said.
“We have been subjected to two wars in eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed.
“Therefore, we have no possibility of participating in this way.”
In a criticism of the US, he added: “If the host country had been different, the international community would surely have reacted and withdrawn the hosting rights.”
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