The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Monday that it has yet to receive any formal notification from Iran regarding the withdrawal of its national football team from the upcoming World Cup.
Iran secured a spot in the 48-team tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The team is slated to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Amid escalating tensions following U.S. airstrikes alongside Israel that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Iran’s sports minister claimed the players could not safely participate in the tournament.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran was welcome to compete but expressed concern for the players’ safety, saying it might not be appropriate for them to attend “for their own life and safety.”
AFC General Secretary Windsor John, speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, described the situation as “a very emotional moment” with much speculation surrounding Iran’s participation.
“At the end of the day, it’s the federation’s decision. As of today, the federation has told us they are going to the World Cup. They are our member, they qualified, and we hope they resolve their issues and take part,” he said.
A formal withdrawal by Iran would mark a first in modern World Cup history and leave FIFA scrambling to find a replacement team at short notice.
