Iran’s sports minister has announced that the team will not participate in this summer’s World Cup due to the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. Iran is currently engaged in warfare with the US, sparking widespread speculation about their involvement in the tournament, set to be hosted by America, Canada and Mexico.
Iran were drawn into Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt after qualifying for the tournament, which is set to commence on 11 June. However, the nation’s sports minister has now officially confirmed their intention to boycott the event.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” stated Ahmad Donyamal during a television interview.
(Image: Emilee Chinn – FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images)
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“In light of the malicious actions taken against Iran, two wars were imposed upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we certainly have no possibility of participating in this manner.”
Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June, before travelling to Seattle to play Egypt on 26 June, with plans to stay at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. When asked last week about Iran’s participation in the World Cup, US President Trump responded bluntly: “I really don’t care.”
However, Donyamal’s comments contradict the signals emerging from the West, including those from Gianni Infantino. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” the FIFA chief posted on Instagram on Tuesday.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
FIFA CEO Heimo Schirgi stated: “The World Cup will go on obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.”
The Middle Eastern conflict has now entered its 11th day, and speaking on Tuesday, Trump declared that “the war is very complete, pretty much”, whilst insisting the US was “very far ahead of schedule”. He continued: “We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough”, with the US “not happy” with Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
American airstrikes eliminated Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and their retaliatory assaults have drawn neighbouring nations Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait into the warfare. The conflict has sparked travel turmoil across the Middle East and has already affected the World Cup, with The Iraqi Football Federation requesting their World Cup play-off against Suriname or Bolivia on March 31 in Mexico to be delayed due to the serious logistical difficulties.
There have also been safety worries over the fixtures in Mexico following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes in an army operation that sparked violence. Matches are set to take place in Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco, the region impacted, and officials have revealed plans to deploy 100,000 security personnel to safeguard football supporters.