'Corrupt Govt Murdered Our Leader': Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali Rules Out FIFA World Cup 2026 Participation Amid Israel-Iran War

'Corrupt Govt Murdered Our Leader': Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali Rules Out FIFA World Cup 2026 Participation Amid Israel-Iran War

Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has ruled out his country's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be hosted by the USA. Iran have qualified for the tournament but will pull out after the death of their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the ongoing US-Iran-Israel War.

Sreehari MenonUpdated: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 06:29 PM IST
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Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has ruled out his country's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be hosted by the USA. Iran have qualified for the tournament but will pull out after the death of their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the ongoing US-Iran-Israel War.

“Since this corrupt government murdered our leader, we do not have the conditions to participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said in a television interview with the DPA news agency.

More to follow....