Iran might withdraw from this summer’s World Cup in the United States, labeling the event “inappropriate” due to what they describe as “vicious” military actions by the US and Israel against their nation, according to the president of Iran’s football federation.

The Iranian national team, which has been placed in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, faces increasing uncertainty about their participation in the tournament.

In response to the recent death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has launched a series of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, primarily targeting US and Israeli military installations.

Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, has indicated to Iranian media over the past day that the nation’s involvement in the World Cup is in jeopardy.

“While it’s impossible to say definitively, there will undoubtedly be consequences,” Taj remarked on IRIB Channel 3. “This matter will be reviewed by the country’s top sports officials, who will decide the course of action.”

“However,” he added, “considering the severity of this attack, it is beyond our expectations to view the World Cup with optimism.”

Mehdi Taj (left) has said Iran may not compete in this summer’s ‘inappropriate’ World Cup

Iran’s national team have been drawn in Group G against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt

He added that it would be ‘inappropriate’ for Iran to compete under the current circumstances.

With just 101 days until the tournament kicks off across the US, Canada and Mexico, questions are continuing to grow for FIFA surrounding their plan should Iran pull out.

At present, FIFA’s only public comment about the war in the Middle East has come from their general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.

‘I read the news (about Iran) this morning the same way you did,’ Grafstrom said on Saturday at the International Football Association Board’s AGM in Cardiff.

‘We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.

‘We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating.

‘We will continue to communicate as we always do with three (host) governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.’

Should Iran play in the tournament, their matches against New Zealand and Belgium will be held in Los Angeles, while their clash against Egypt is set to be hosted in Seattle.

US President Donald Trump told the Daily Mail that he expects the conflict to last ‘four weeks or less’ in an exclusive interview on Sunday, giving the nation just over two months to prepare.

Should they pull out, however, FIFA will have to quickly introduce a replacement.

According to their own regulations, this would be a ‘nominated alternate, often the direct runner-up from the relevant qualifying playoff or highest-ranked non-qualified team from that confederation’. 

Iraq would be the frontrunners should they fail to qualify through this month’s Inter-Continental play-off final against either Bolivia or Suriname.

US President Donald Trump has been front and centre of the build-up to the World Cup

However, if Iraq win and qualify automatically, the nation most likely to replace Iran would be the United Arab Emirates, who lost their confederation play-off to Iraq last year.

Iran’s preparations for the tournament will also be affected with no matches – including friendlies – to be played during the 40-day mourning period for the death of their Supreme Leader.

Adding further complications, fans from the nation were already prohibited from entering the US in the first iteration of a huge travel ban announced by the Trump administration last year.

Only coaches and players from the team were set to be granted visa exemptions to enter the country and compete in the tournament, prompting Iran to threaten to boycott the World Cup draw.

Potential off-field problems at the tournament are continuing to stoke fears, with alarm raised over cartel violence gripping Mexico and the chaos surrounding ICE agents in the US.

Trump, however, has been front and centre of the build-up to the World Cup – from being awarded FIFA’s Peace Prize by Gianni Infantino to having photo ops in the White House with the trophy.

Speaking at the tournament’s draw in December, Trump said: ‘Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football, or as we call it soccer. It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible.

‘The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now.’ 

Trump has also set up a White House World Cup taskforce, the leader of which Andrew Giuliani posted over the weekend that the strikes on Iran are making ‘the world a safe place’.

‘We’ll deal with soccer games tomorrow,’ Giuliani said. ‘Tonight we celebrate (the Iranian people’s) opportunity for freedom.’

The most recent nation to be banned from competing in a World Cup were Russia in 2022 due to their invasion of Ukraine, but Infantino has recently suggested lifting such measures.

Despite the war still raging on, the FIFA president claimed the ban ‘has not achieved anything’ and ‘has just created more frustration and hatred’.

He added: ‘Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.’

Responding, Ukraine sports minister Matvii Bidnyi branded Infantino ‘irresponsible’ and ‘infantile’.

‘They detach football from the reality in which children are being killed,’ he added.