Iran's Minister of 'World Cup Emergency' "We're not coming" → AFC "Still playing"... Unbeatable participation in the World Cup for the first time ever

*This content was translated by AI.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) weighed in on Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, saying, "We have not been notified of our rights." However, confusion is aggravating as Iranian sports authorities previously declared that they would not participate in the World Cup.

"For now, the Iranian Football Association has said it will play in the World Cup," AFC Secretary-General Windsor John said at a press conference at AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 16th (local time). "We have not received any notification from Iran about abstaining, and Iran still plans to play in the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup."

"In the end, it is the Iranian Football Association that decides whether to participate in the World Cup," he stressed, suggesting that he is willing to participate at the level of the Football Association, apart from the political situation.

But the political situation inside Iran is running in the opposite direction. Amid the height of tensions in the Middle East due to military attacks by the U.S. and Israel, Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali declared a "boycott" at the government level in an interview on state TV on the 12th, saying, "Iran cannot participate in the World Cup at a time when supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by the U.S. invasion."

As the Iranian government and the soccer community are exposed, FIFA is also struggling to deal with the situation. FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the preparations for the World Cup and said, "President Trump reaffirmed his position that he welcomes the Iranian national team to the U.S."

In 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, which opens in June, Iran, which belongs to Group G, will play all games in the United States. After playing the first and second group games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles (LA), the U.S., they will move to Seattle to play the third game against Egypt.

AFC and FIFA are encouraging Iran to participate in the normal tournament, but the world's attention is focusing on what decision the Iranian Football Association will make amid its government's strong boycott declaration.

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*This content was translated by AI.