Khaberni - Despite the sensitivity of the political scene, the World Cup remains a global event with huge sporting and economic dimensions, making any decision to exclude a team or its withdrawal an exceptional step with wide implications, not only for Group Seven but for the entire tournament.
The Iran national football team was drawn in the 2026 World Cup draw, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11. However, recent military developments in the Middle East, following the American and Israeli strikes on Iran, have opened the door to questions about the Iranian team's fundamental participation in the tournament.
FIFA's official position
Matthias Grafström, the General Secretary of FIFA, emphasized that the focus is on holding a safe tournament with the participation of all teams. Informed sources also indicated that the tournament plans have not changed so far.
On the other hand, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, stated that the current conditions make it difficult to look optimistically at the World Cup, confirming that the "sports officials" will finalize the decision on participation.
Can the US government prevent Iran?
Although the administration of President Donald Trump previously affirmed its commitment to hosting an inclusive tournament, the legal reality is more complicated. Travel restrictions have been imposed on Iranian citizens, with limited exceptions for athletes participating in major tournaments.
However, visa decisions remain subject to "national security" criteria, which theoretically means the US government has the authority to restrict the entry of individuals or even the entire team if it sees a necessity for it.
What if Iran withdraws?
World Cup regulations state that FIFA has broad discretionary power in the event of a "force majeure." Under Article 6.7, any withdrawing team can be replaced by another team chosen by the federation.
FIFA has two main options:
Either to keep Group Seven with only three teams or to replace Iran with an alternate team.
However, finding an alternative would be complicated due to time constraints and the significant logistical preparations associated with the tournament.
Who could replace Iran?
The Asian qualifiers were complex. Iran qualified directly from its group. Behind them came teams like Uzbekistan and Qatar, while the United Arab Emirates and Iraq entered additional playoff stages.
One of these teams could be a candidate to replace Iran, or FIFA might opt to choose a team that lost in another continental playoff. The regulations afford FIFA the freedom to make an appropriate decision in such exceptional cases.
Historical precedents
The last withdrawal of teams after qualifying was in the 1950 World Cup when the tournament featured only 13 teams after a series of withdrawals.
The most recent case was in the 2025 Club World Cup, when Club León from Mexico was excluded months before the tournament, and a deciding match was organized to select a replacement. However, applying a similar scenario in the World Cup would be more complex due to the size of the event.
Could the hosting in the United States be affected?
So far, there are no indications from FIFA of moving matches or imposing sanctions on the host nation. Nor have security concerns directly linked to the tournament emerged within the US.
Despite the sensitivity of the political scene, the World Cup remains a global event with huge sporting and economic dimensions, making any decision to exclude a team or its withdrawal an exceptional step with wide implications, not only for Group Seven but for the entire tournament.
