Tehran/IBNS, March 12 -- Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country's Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali has announced, citing the ongoing war with the United States and Israel.

The decision comes after a joint US-Israel strike on Tehran killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering escalating military exchanges between the two sides.

Donyamali said that Iran has endured months of conflict. "Over the past eight or nine months, two wars have been imposed on us and several thousand of our people have been killed and martyred. Therefore, we definitely do not have the possibility for participation," he said.

The announcement comes after Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, met US President Do...