“Under no circumstances” can Iran compete in this year’s World Cup, the country’s sports minister has said.
The team’s participation has been in doubt after US and Israeli forces struck Iran, with Tehran retaliating with attacks on American assets and allies across the Middle East.
Follow the latest on the Iran war
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said earlier that he met US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night “to discuss the status of preparations” for the tournament, and received assurances Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
However, Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that “considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader” – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – “under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup”.
According to state news outlet WANA, the head of Iran’s football federation Mehdi Taj also said: “Which rational person would send the national team into such a situation?”
Iran’s men’s national team are scheduled to play in the US against New Zealand in June, before facing Belgium and Egypt.
Last week, Mr Trump, who received FIFA’s inaugural peace prize last year, said that “I really don’t care” if Iran takes part in the tournament.
In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Mr Infantino said that during discussions last night, “President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States”.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World,” Mr Infantino added.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino. File pic: Reuters
It comes after six members of the Iranian women’s football team – five players and one member of staff – were granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia over fears they could be in danger after they did not sing Iran’s national anthem before a game. They were in Australia for the Asian Cup.
One player on the team has since decided to return to Iran.
A travel ban imposed by Mr Trump means Iranian fans will not be able to travel to America this summer, but teams are due to be given exemptions to participate.
Read more from Sky News:
March banned to ‘prevent serious public disorder’
British couple drown at popular Australian beach
FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer said earlier this week that the tournament is “too big” to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the Iran war.
Heimo Schirgi said: “The World Cup will go on obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.”
