Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Dunyamali has threatened that his country will withdraw from the 2026 World Cup if any political chants against the regime are heard during the national team’s matches on US soil.
The Iranian delegation has already arrived in Mexico to set up their tournament base. In a temporary compromise to resolve geopolitical tensions, Mehdi Taremi and his teammates will only travel to the United States on match days and return to Mexico immediately afterward.
US Ticket Restrictions and Team Warning
Tensions escalated further after US authorities announced that tickets would not be sold to the Iranian public, meaning Iran’s three group-stage matches will only be attended by opposing fans—a decision that has sparked widespread global debate.
Addressing the situation, the Iranian Sports Minister emphasized that political opposition must stay clear of the stadium.
“We have officially informed FIFA that we will walk off the pitch immediately upon hearing any political slogans during our matches,” Dunyamali stated.
He added: “We will not tolerate the presence of the old Iranian flag (used by opposition groups). FIFA has strictly emphasized that only the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is permitted inside the stadiums. Any other slogans will result in our immediate exit from the tournament.”
Iran’s World Cup 2026 Schedule
Team Melli is set to kick off their campaign against New Zealand next Tuesday. They will then face a highly anticipated clash against Belgium on June 21, before concluding their group stage with an all-Middle Eastern showdown against Egypt on June 27.
