Soccer Withdrawal

Iran boycotts 2026 World Cup after US-Israel airstrikes kill Supreme Leader Khamenei

March 11, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin Àwòrán tí AI ṣe

Iran's sports minister announced on March 11, 2026, the national football team's withdrawal from the FIFA World Cup, escalating prior boycott threats over US visa issues into a full boycott due to US and Israeli airstrikes killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's group stage matches were scheduled in US venues amid a conflict claiming over 1,255 lives.