Less than three months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Iran's participation is still surrounded by uncertainty due to international tension and the war in the Middle East . However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) assured that, so far, the Persian national team maintains its intention to play in the tournament
.Windsor John, general secretary of the AFC, said that the agency did not receive any official communication indicating a possible loss of the team. “They are our members, we want them to play. As far as we know, Iran is going to play,” said the leader during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur
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The director also clarified that, despite the speculations that emerged in recent weeks, the final decision depends exclusively on the Iranian federation. “It's a very emotional moment, everyone is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day, it is the Iranian football federation that must decide if it plays and, until today, we have been told that they are going to the World Cup,” he added.
John's statements contrast with what Iran's Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, had said a few days ago, who suggested that the country could give up the tournament due to the conflict with the United States and Israel. The official had stated that the current circumstances made it difficult for the national team to participate in a competition that will have the United States as one of the
