World Cup in crisis as nation officially confirms they will boycott tournament

 Iran's sports minister says the team will NOT compete at the World Cup this summer due to the ongoing war against Israel and the United States. Iran is currently at war with the US and there has been huge speculation over their participation in this summer's tournament, which is hosted by America, Canada and Mexico.

Iran have been drawn in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt after qualifying for the tournament, which is due to kick off on June 11. But the country's sports minister has now officially confirmed they plan to boycott the tournament.

"Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup," Ahmad Donyamal said in a television interview.

"In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way."

Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, before heading to Seattle to play Egypt on June 26 and had planned to stay at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. Asked last week about Iran's participation at the World Cup, US President Trump replied bluntly: "I really don't care."

However, Donyamal's words go against the noises coming from the West, including from Gianni Infantino. "During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States," the president of FIFA said on Instagram on Tuesday.

"We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World."

FIFA CEO Heimo Schirgi said: "The World Cup will go on obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified."

The war in the Middle East is now into its 11th day and speaking on Tuesday, Trump said that "the war is very complete, pretty much", and insisted the US was "very far ahead of schedule". He added: "We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough", with the US "not happy" with Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

US strikes killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei and their retaliation attacks have dragged neighbouring countries Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait into the conflict.

The war has caused travel chaos in the Middle East and has already impacted the World Cup, with the Iraqi Football Federation asking for their World Cup play-off against Suriname or Bolivia on March 31 in Mexico to be postponed due to the severe logistical problems.

There have also been security concerns over the matches in Mexico after the killing of cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes in an army operation triggered violence. Matches are scheduled to be hosted in Guadalajara, the capital city of the affected area of Jalisco, and authorities have announced the plan to use 100,000 security personnel to protect football fans.