Iran threaten to withdraw from World Cup after US airstrikes as FIFA issue statement

The FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom has said they will 'monitor developments' after the United States - co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup - launched military action against Iran

Iran has reportedly threatened to pull out of this summer's World Cup after US and Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It comes after the US and Israel launched "major combat operations" across Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes across the Middle East - hitting Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait, all home to US bases, as well as Israel.

Britain did not take part in the strikes but Prime Minister Keir Starmer said our planes were in the sky in the Middle East. He added: “We’ve stepped up protections from British bases and personnel to their highest level. Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.”

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Iran have qualified for the World Cup, which will be held across America, Canada and Mexico this summer. The Middle Eastern nation have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt - but the situation will be monitored in the wake of the US strikes.

In the wake of the conflict, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, cast massive doubt over their participation in the upcoming World Cup. Speaking on Iranian TV network 'Tehran', according to Marca, he said: "With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup." He added: 'But the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.'

"I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did,” said Mattias Grafstrom, who was at the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, via ESPN. “We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.

“We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. We will continue to communicate as we always do with three [host] governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.”

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