Amid the raging war in the Middle East, a million-dollar question has cast a shadow over football — will Iran feature at the 2026 Fifa World Cup?
With just over two months from now, 48 teams will sing their national anthems proudly as they step onto the field to play for their countries in the world’s greatest sporting spectacle.
But the 2026 World Cup (June 11-July 19), which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, may miss out on Iran, which had qualified comfortably for the event, securing their seventh appearance at the global showpiece.
The Iranian national team are scheduled to play their Group G matches against New Zealand (June 15), Belgium (June 21) and Egypt (June 26) in the US, the country which launched a joint-military operation with Israel against Iran on February 28.
Infantino’s assurance
Despite the barrage of missiles launched by both sides, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has expressed confidence that Iran’s World Cup campaign will take off smoothly.
However, the Swiss official’s assurance failed to erase doubts with reports emerging that Iran had asked the game’s governing body to move their matches from the US to Mexico.
If Fifa refuse to approve Iran’s request, leading to an Iranian World Cup boycott, Infantino will need to make a strong decision.
According to reports in several global media houses, including The New York Times, Fifa have two options — continue the tournament with just three teams in Group G or find a replacement for Iran.
Who could replace Iran?
After Iraq became the ninth Asian team to book a World Cup berth with a thrilling 2-1 win over Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff on Wednesday, the uncertainty over Iran’s participation has given the UAE a chance to end their World Cup drought.
The UAE, whose only World Cup appearance came in 1990, was just one win away from qualifying for the 2026 tournament.
A win over Qatar in the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifiers would have earned them a place in the big event.
But a painful defeat in Doha sent them to an Asian playoff battle against Iraq, which the Iraqis won to advance to the intercontinental playoff in Mexico.
Iraq went on to beat Bolivia in the last playoff to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Iraq’s victory amid the uncertainty over Iran’s participation has now opened the door for the UAE.
Why the UAE?
While four-time champions Italy are the highest-ranked team — 12th — to have failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, the UAE hopes will remain alive if the Iranians pull out of the event.
Fifa, according to a report published in the New York Times, is likely to pick an Asian team to replace Iran.
“With Iraq’s victory, UAE would presumably be next in line as a potential replacement for Iran,” The New York Times reported.
“Or, Fifa would look outside Asia. It could choose the intercontinental playoff loser (South America’s Bolivia). It could pick the top-ranked team that didn’t qualify, which would be Italy following their failure to advance from the European playoffs. Under Fifa’s own rules, it could do whatever it wants.”
The ball will be in Fifa’s court if Iran becomes the first country since 1950 to withdraw from a World Cup.
Source: Khaleej Times