The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has disclosed that Iran is still scheduled to play in the 2026 World Cup, with no official notification received regarding withdrawal despite ongoing regional conflicts and safety concerns.
The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has thrown into doubt Iran’s participation.
Recall that US President Donald Trump warned last week that the Iranian team’s “life and safety” could be at risk if they travel to the competition, raising questions about whether the country would take part.
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However, AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John said there had been no official indication that Iran would withdraw from the global tournament.
“As far as we know, Iran is playing,” Windsor told reporters at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are monitoring whether they are playing or not, but at the moment they are. There is no official information that they are not playing.
“Iran is a top team, and we hope they will solve their issues and be able to participate in the World Cup,” he said.
