U.S. Attack on Iran Disrupts FIFA World Cup Plans

Soccer's governing body grapples with host country at war with a participating nation ahead of the tournament.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The escalating conflict in the Middle East has created extraordinary circumstances for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. With the tournament just over three months away, FIFA is trying to come to terms with the United States, a host country, going to war with a participating nation, Iran. The timing of the attack is particularly awkward for FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, who has developed a close relationship with President Trump. Iran, the first team from Asia to qualify for the World Cup, was drawn to play group-stage games on the West Coast, raising concerns about their participation.

Why it matters

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and the conflict between the U.S. and Iran threatens to disrupt the tournament in unprecedented ways. FIFA must navigate the geopolitical tensions to ensure the World Cup can proceed as planned, while also addressing concerns from participating teams and fans about safety and security.

The details

Hours after the American-Israeli campaign against Iran started, FIFA officials were in Wales for a gathering to discuss the game's rules, but also found themselves considering contingencies to replace Iran at the 48-nation tournament. Several possible scenarios for Iran exiting the World Cup include the team withdrawing or the U.S. barring them from entering the country. Iranian officials have cast doubt on their team's presence at the World Cup following the attacks that killed Iran's supreme leader.

  • The World Cup is scheduled to take place in just over 3 months.
  • The U.S. attack on Iran began on Saturday, March 4, 2026.
  • Iran's first World Cup game was scheduled for June 16, 2026.

The players

Gianni Infantino

The president of FIFA, the global governing body of soccer, who has developed a close relationship with President Trump.

Mattias Grafstrom

The top aide and Secretary General to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Mehdi Taj

The vice president of the Asian Football Confederation and a top soccer official in Iran.

Andrew Giuliani

The top U.S. official involved with planning the 2026 World Cup.

Mikhail Degtyarev

The sports minister of Russia, who criticized plans by some countries to boycott the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Italy.

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What they’re saying

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”

— Mehdi Taj, Vice President, Asian Football Confederation

“We'll deal with soccer games tomorrow.”

— Andrew Giuliani, Top U.S. World Cup Official

“Will representatives of Finland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland and Estonia boycott the Paralympic Games due to the participation of the US and Israeli teams in the wake of their strike on Iran?”

— Mikhail Degtyarev, Sports Minister, Russia (X)

What’s next

FIFA is monitoring the situation closely and considering contingency plans in case Iran is unable to participate in the World Cup. The organization must also address concerns from other participating teams and fans about the safety and security of the tournament.

The takeaway

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has created an unprecedented challenge for FIFA as it prepares to host the 2026 World Cup. The governing body must navigate complex geopolitical tensions to ensure the tournament can proceed as planned, while also addressing the concerns of players, teams, and fans about the potential disruptions caused by the ongoing military conflict.