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Mehdi Taj

Mehdi Taj

President, Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI)

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

"If the outlook for the World Cup is like this, no reasonable person would agree to be sent to the U.S." — Mehdi Taj, FFIRI President

Stories

Iran withdraws from 2026 World Cup after U.S.-Israeli strikes kill supreme leader

Force in Play

Warned of World Cup participation doubts

Iran became the first non-host nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. A year later, it became the first qualified nation in the modern era to pull out for political reasons. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced on state television that Iran will not participate in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—three months after a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and devastated the country's military infrastructure.

Updated Mar 12