- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Iran's World Cup Participation in Doubt After Military Strikes
FIFA says focus is on having 'safe World Cup with everybody participating', but Iran's football chief expresses doubts
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran have raised questions about whether the country will be able to send a team to this summer's World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Iran's football federation president has expressed doubts about the team's participation, while FIFA says its focus is on having a safe tournament with all teams present. The U.S. government has already barred Iranian nationals from traveling to the States, though with an exemption for sports teams. FIFA has broad discretion under its regulations to replace a withdrawing team, but finding a last-minute substitute would be complicated.
Why it matters
Iran's participation in the World Cup is a high-profile issue that could have significant geopolitical implications. The tournament is a major global event, and Iran's absence would be seen as a symbolic victory for the U.S. and its allies. It could also raise questions about the safety and security of the World Cup, as well as FIFA's ability to uphold its commitment to an inclusive tournament.
The details
According to FIFA regulations, the governing body has broad discretion to replace a withdrawing team or adjust the tournament accordingly in cases of 'force majeure' or other unforeseen events. However, finding a last-minute replacement would be logistically challenging, as the multi-stage Asian qualifying process makes it unclear which team would be next in line. FIFA could potentially hold a playoff between teams like UAE and Iraq to determine a replacement.
- The World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026.
- Iran is scheduled to play its three Group G matches on June 15, June 21, and June 26.
The players
Mattias Grafström
General secretary of FIFA, the global governing body of football.
Mehdi Taj
President of the Iranian football federation.
Donald Trump
Former U.S. president who previously claimed all eligible athletes, officials and fans would be able to enter the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup without discrimination.
Andrew Giuliani
Head of the White House World Cup task force.
What they’re saying
“of course, our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.”
— Mattias Grafström, General secretary of FIFA (The Athletic)
“after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
— Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian football federation (Associated Press)
What’s next
FIFA and the U.S. government will need to work together to determine if Iran can safely participate in the World Cup, or if a replacement team will need to be found on short notice.
The takeaway
The potential absence of Iran from the 2026 World Cup due to ongoing military conflict raises significant logistical and geopolitical challenges for FIFA and the host nations. It highlights the delicate balance between sports, politics, and security that major international tournaments must navigate.
