Iran's national soccer team faces uncertainty about competing in the 2026 World Cup following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on the country. Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's soccer federation, told sports portal Varzesh3 that the federation cannot look forward to the tournament with hope after the attacks. The strikes, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have thrown the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised regional instability concerns.

Iran is scheduled to play in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The United States is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iranian fans were already banned from entering the U.S. under the Trump administration's first travel ban, adding another layer of complexity to the team's participation.

FIFA has not yet responded to inquiries about Iran's World Cup status, though the organization stated it is monitoring regional developments. The federation's concerns highlight how geopolitical tensions can directly impact international sporting events, potentially forcing FIFA to make difficult decisions about team participation as the tournament approaches.