Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:28am on 12 Mar 2026,Thursday Sports
Iran has announced it will not participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said the national team cannot compete in a tournament hosted partly in the United States under the current circumstances. The decision comes as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with Iran launching retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region. The United States, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to co-host the 2026 tournament. (PC: AP)
