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Iranian national football team to skip 2026 FIFA World Cup — minister

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States between June 11 and July 19

© Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. The Iranian national football team will skip the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Thursday.

"Given the fact that their government [the United States] assassinated our supreme leader, we will not participate in the World Championship under the existing circumstances," Donyamali said in an interview with TV2 television broadcaster.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States between June 11 and July 19. The matches will be staged in 16 cities across the three countries. This will be the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams instead of the previous 32-team format.

2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy, transport infrastructure over past day

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Palestinian ambassador to Russia calls for international conference on Gaza

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US Navy refuses requests for military escorts through Strait of Hormuz — agency

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Iranian air defense systems intercept two Israeli Heron UAVs, one Hermes

The source reported that one Heron drone was destroyed in the skies over Markazi province

EU may try to break Orban for April 12 polls in Hungary — Russian envoy

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US Navy escorts tanker through Strait of Hormuz — Secretary of Energy

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Iran loses more than 90% of its missile launchers — Bloomberg

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Russian stock indices decline as trading on Moscow Exchange closes

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All crew members are safe

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Iran’s elite army unit to block regional oil exports to US, spokesman warns

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Putin congratulates Russian Paralympians with gold at 2026 Winter Paralympics

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Putin holds second telephone call with Iranian president in one week — Kremlin

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Russian dollar billionaires hit a new record in Forbes global list

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US Department of Energy raises outlook for average Brent crude price in 2026 to $78.84

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Ukrainian armed forces missile strike on Bryansk leaves casualties, wounded

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Number of those detained in Iran for espionage on behalf of Israel, US rises to 40

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West battlegroup destroys three Ukrainian HIMARS shells, 42 UAVs during day

A Starlink satellite communication station and three field ammunition depots were also destroyed