Iran to Boycott 2026 World Cup Matches in US Following Larijani Assassination

Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj announced the country will boycott matches scheduled to be played in the United States during the 2026 World Cup but will continue preparing for the tournament and will not withdraw from it. Taj made the statement in a video released by the Fars news agency, declaring: „We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup.” — Mehdi Taj via The Guardian The announcement came as Iran sought an alternative venue for its group-stage matches, opening talks with FIFA about relocating those fixtures to Mexico, one of the tournament's two other co-hosts. The decision follows the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began in late February 2026, and reflects the broader political rupture between Tehran and Washington.

Mexico signals readiness to step in as host Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico is prepared to host Iran's first-round matches if FIFA decides to approve a relocation. The offer provides a potential path for Iran to remain in the competition without its players or officials setting foot on American soil. Iran's group matches were originally scheduled to be played in the United States, which is serving as the primary host nation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. FIFA has not yet publicly confirmed whether it will accommodate the request. The federation's position, as stated by Taj, is that Iran is continuing its preparations and intends to compete, making the relocation of matches the central condition for its participation.

Larijani assassination deepens Iran's political crisis The football dispute unfolds against a backdrop of acute political turmoil inside Iran following the assassination of Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike on March 17, 2026. Larijani, who served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and was described as Iran's de facto leader at the time of his death, was killed two days before the football federation's announcement. Iranian authorities subsequently threatened revenge against Israel for the killing. The country is simultaneously managing the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader following the death of his father Ali Khamenei in the initial US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, and is reorganizing its leadership structure under sustained military pressure. The convergence of military conflict, leadership succession, and diplomatic isolation has placed Iranian institutions, including its sports bodies, in an unprecedented position.

Iran has a long history of political tensions intersecting with its participation in international football. The country qualified for the 2026 World Cup and had been preparing for the tournament before the outbreak of hostilities. The 2026 edition is the first to feature 48 teams and is co-hosted across three nations, giving FIFA logistical flexibility that previous single-host tournaments did not offer. Iran's football federation, the FFIRI, has been a FIFA member since 1948 and an affiliate of the Asian Football Confederation.

EU condemns execution of Swedish citizen in Iran Separately, the European Union condemned the execution of a Swedish citizen in Iran, describing the killing as "brutal violence." The condemnation adds another layer of diplomatic strain between Iran and Western nations at a moment when Tehran is already under military attack and international isolation. The execution drew particular attention given Sweden's EU membership, making the case a matter of direct concern for the bloc. The EU statement did not specify the identity of the executed individual or the charges under which the sentence was carried out, according to reporting by ANSA. The incident underscores the range of fronts on which Iran's government is facing international criticism simultaneously, from military confrontation with the United States and Israel to human rights condemnations from European institutions.