World Cup 2026, tensions soaring: new threat from'Iran

Less than a week before the Iranian national team’s debut at the 2026 World Cup, the situation is tense.

The strained relations between Tehran and Washington are also having repercussions in the world of soccer. After visas were not granted by the U.S. authorities to some members of Team Melli’s delegation, the Islamic Republic’s Minister of Sports and Youth Ahmad Donyamali threw gasoline on the fire.

“If in the stadiums where we play we see a flag or symbol other than that of the Islamic Republic of Iran or if slogans are chanted that violate the regulations, the team’s manager will certainly have a duty to stop the match. It is the responsibility of the organizers to remedy the situation,” he told Iranwire.

Following the start of the war between the United States and Iran, the possibility had emerged that Mehdi Taremi and his teammates would not participate in the World Cup but the Iranian soccer federation has since decided that it will also take part in the tournament to send a message of hope to its people.

In the past few weeks relations between Tehran and Washington seemed to have improved but subsequently there was a new escalation and on Wednesday Donald Trump wrote very harsh words on the social Truth: “Iran is all talk and no action. The bully in the Middle East is dead! They took too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price.”