Iran Threatens to Withdraw from 2026 World Cup Over Political Chants

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmed Dinyamali sparked controversy by suggesting that Iran’s national football team could withdraw from the 2026 World Cup if political chants or protests by opponents of the Iranian regime occur in the stadiums.

According to the Iranian website Varzesh3, Dinyamali stated that Iranian authorities have informed FIFA that the team delegation will exit the field immediately upon hearing political slogans during the matches.

The minister clarified that FIFA has repeatedly emphasized the exclusive display of Iran’s official flag inside stadiums, prohibiting the use of the old Iranian flag featuring the "Lion and Sun" emblem. This flag is used by opposition groups, particularly monarchist factions, as a symbol of protest against the regime abroad.

Despite these demands, observers believe enforcing such restrictions during the tournament will be challenging, especially since the event is held in the United States, where freedom of expression is protected by law.

The Iranian team is scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles: the first against New Zealand on the upcoming Monday, and the second against Belgium on June 21. A large turnout is expected from the Iranian diaspora, one of the largest communities in the United States.

Some segments of the Iranian community view the World Cup as an opportunity to express their political positions and send messages opposing the regime.

These developments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States since February, which led the Iranian team to relocate its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. The team will travel to the United States only on match days.

Iran will conclude its group stage campaign by facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.