The president of Iran’s soccer federation has cast doubt on his country’s participation in the 2026 World Cup following the U.S. bombing of Iran on Saturday, Feb 28.
The missile attacks, which were also carried out by Israel, killed a number of top Iranian officials including the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s state broadcaster reported the death toll from the strikes has reached 201 with 747 people injured as of Sunday, March 1.
‘What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,’ Mehdi Taj told Iran state television.
Iran has retaliated with attacks on countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host U.S. military bases.
The conflict broke out only months before Iran is scheduled to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, which will also be co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.
Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. Iran was among 19 countries included in a travel ban that the Trump administration announced in June.
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said his organization was focused on ‘all the teams participating’ in the World Cup as planned.
