TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has said that Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on the country, the German press agency dpa reported on Wednesday.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

Iran is placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, with all three of its group-stage matches scheduled to be played in the United States.

Iran was also the only nation absent from a planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta.

Earlier, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said U.S. President Donald Trump had reiterated that Iran would be welcome to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. ■