Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali, has officially declared that the nation cannot participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup after the United States killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This firm statement comes after weeks of escalating conflict and marks a definitive withdrawal from the global tournament.
According to Al Jazeera, Donyamali minced no words, telling state television, “Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.” The US and Israeli war on Iran, which kicked off on February 28, has reportedly claimed 1,255 lives and left over 12,000 wounded, making any participation seem impossible for the nation.
