Iran has signalled it may withdraw from this summer's World Cup following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
The head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, expressed serious reservations about the nation's involvement in the tournament during an appearance on Iranian television network Tehran.
"With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup," Taj stated, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
He noted, however, that ultimate responsibility for the decision rests with senior sports officials.
The threat emerges just 107 days before Iran are due to begin their campaign against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The military strikes targeted multiple locations across Iran, including three sites in Tehran where intelligence suggested senior officials had gathered.
Saturday's operation followed weeks of escalating tensions and came in the aftermath of collapsed negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief.
Iran has signalled it may withdraw from this summer's World Cup following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday
|GETTY
Democrats criticised President Trump for proceeding without congressional approval, though White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that key figures from both parties had received advance briefings.
Should Iran ultimately decide to compete, the tournament could produce a highly charged encounter with the United States in Dallas on 3 July, provided both nations finish as runners-up in their respective groups.
The prospect of such a fixture has added further complexity to an already volatile situation.
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Speaking at an IFAB gathering in Wales on Saturday, FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom acknowledged the gravity of the situation whilst urging caution.
"I read the news the same way you did this morning," he said.
"We had a meeting today and it would be premature to comment on that in detail."
Grafstrom emphasised that the governing body would continue monitoring global developments, adding: "We had a final draw in Washington where all teams participated and of course our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating."
Iran, placed in Group G, face Belgium and New Zealand in Los Angeles before concluding their group stage against Egypt in Seattle.
The death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was confirmed on Saturday
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President Trump announced Khamenei's death on Truth Social on Saturday morning, describing him as "one of the most evil people in History".
"This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," Trump wrote.
He characterised the moment as "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country".
However, the Supreme Leader's death offers no guarantee of political transformation in Iran, with Tehran responding by launching retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
The airstrikes follow a period earlier this year when Iran's authoritarian government killed thousands of its own citizens whilst attempting to suppress widespread protests and uprisings against Khamenei's rule.