Reports have emerged that Iran is considering withdrawing from this summer’s World Cup following the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in airstrikes conducted by the US and Israel.
This significant escalation came after a coordinated military operation on Saturday, which targeted several major Iranian cities, including Tehran, amidst rising tensions over recent weeks.
The strikes occurred shortly after negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions fell through. The talks aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in return for lifting economic sanctions that have severely impacted the Iranian economy.
While these unfruitful discussions may have prompted the military intervention, many Democrats criticized former President Trump for acting without the necessary congressional approval. However, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that key Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress were briefed ahead of the operation.
Amid the ensuing turmoil, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, expressed serious doubts about Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup.
In an interview with the Iranian TV network ‘Tehran,’ as reported by Marca, Taj remarked, “Given today’s events and the attack by the United States, it seems unlikely that we can anticipate participating in the cup.”
Iran has reportedly threatened to pull out of this summer’s World Cup after US and Israeli airstrikes killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Pictured: Iran’s national soccer team in March 2025)
Donald Trump, pictured back in December alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, started a military campaign against Iran in the early hours of Saturday
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) is believed to have been killed after a devastating barrage of 30 bombs obliterated his compound in Iran
He added: ‘But the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.’
Should they choose to participate, Iran could face the United States at the World Cup in Dallas on July 3 if both teams finish second in their respective groups.
The warning comes just 107 days before the Iranian national team is scheduled to kick off its tournament against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
FIFA bosses are now reportedly scrambling to manage the fallout just months before the tournament begins across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking at an IFAB meeting in Wales on Saturday, FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said: ‘I read the news the same way you did this morning.
‘We had a meeting today and it would be premature to comment on that in detail,’ he continued, as officials weigh up the safety of the upcoming summer event.
‘But of course we will monitor the developments around all issues around the world.
‘We had a final draw in Washington where all teams participated and of course our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.’
Should they choose to participate, Iran could face the United States at the World Cup in Dallas on July 3 if both teams finish second in their respective groups
The warning from Taj comes just 107 days before the Iranian national team is scheduled to kick off its tournament at SoFi Stadium
On Saturday, explosions were seen and heard across parts of the Iranian capital, with smoke rising above residential areas
Vehicles burning in Tehran on Saturday after air strikes by Israel and the US
Iran secured their place in a fourth successive World Cup by finishing atop Group A in Asian qualifying, marking them as one of the strongest teams in the AFC.
They are currently drawn in Group G and are scheduled to play Belgium and New Zealand in Los Angeles, with a final group stage fixture against Egypt in Seattle.
The team was slated to be based at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, for the duration of the event, but those plans are now in significant jeopardy.
The latest intervention comes months after thousands of Iranians were killed by Iran’s authoritarian regime in a desperate effort to quell uprisings and protests against Khamenei earlier this year.
On Saturday morning, Trump took to Truth Social to say that Khamenei was dead. ‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,’ Trump wrote.
‘This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.
‘This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.’
Khamenei’s death does not guarantee regime change in Iran and Tehran has responded by launching its own attacks across the Middle East.
Israel said the initial strikes had targeted three locations in Tehran where intelligence had indicated that top Iranian officials were gathered.
