The future of Iran’s participation in this summer’s expanded World Cup tournament is in doubt, following suggestions from the president of the country’s football federation that they may boycott the competition. The uncertainty stems from recent strikes carried out by the United States and Israel within Iran, prompting a strong reaction from Iranian officials.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, indicated that continuing with World Cup plans is challenging in the wake of the attacks. According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, Taj stated, “What is certain is that after these attacks, it’s hard to look at the World Cup with hope.” He added that a response is “certain” and will be determined by high-ranking sports officials.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled to begin in June. Iran was drawn into a group that includes matches scheduled to be played in both Los Angeles and Seattle, raising the stakes of a potential boycott. The team is slated to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21, respectively, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Political Tensions and Precedent
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of already strained political relations. Even before the recent strikes, tensions existed surrounding Iran’s involvement in the tournament, specifically regarding visa restrictions. In November 2023, the Iranian Football Federation followed through on a threat to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington D.C., citing “unsportsmanlike actions” by the US government after visas were not immediately granted to all members of their delegation, including the federation president, Mehdi Taj, though visas were issued to other officials, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
The possibility of a full boycott is unprecedented in modern World Cup history. The last instance of a team refusing to participate on political grounds occurred 60 years ago, when African nations boycotted a qualifying tournament in protest of an unfair allocation of berths. However, this situation is unique, as it involves a direct military action by a host nation against a qualified team so close to the tournament’s start.
Fifa is monitoring the situation closely. Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom stated on Saturday, “It’s too early to comment, but we will monitor developments around the world that could affect the tournament.”
What Happens if Iran Withdraws?
According to Fifa’s regulations, published last year, if a participating member association withdraws or is excluded, Fifa has the discretion to decide on the matter and take “whatever action is deemed necessary.” This includes the possibility of replacing the withdrawing team with another association. Fifa demonstrated this power last summer when they replaced Mexican side Club Leon in the Club World Cup following a violation of ownership rules.
In Iran’s case, the United Arab Emirates would be the most likely replacement, having lost out on automatic qualification and subsequently being eliminated in the play-off rounds. Iraq could also be considered, but only if they successfully navigate their intercontinental play-off against Bolivia or Suriname in Mexico later this month.
Fifa’s regulations also grant them broad authority to cancel, reschedule, or relocate matches, or even the entire tournament, due to “force majeure” or concerns regarding health, safety, or security. This raises the possibility of moving Iran’s scheduled matches from the United States, though the potential for a match-up between the US and Iran – should both teams advance to a certain stage – remains a complex consideration, with a potential fixture scheduled for Arlington, Texas.
The situation remains fluid, and the Iranian Football Federation’s final decision will undoubtedly be influenced by ongoing geopolitical developments. The coming weeks will be critical as Fifa continues to monitor the situation and prepare for all possible scenarios ahead of the World Cup this summer. The next step will be a decision from Iranian officials regarding their participation, a decision that will have significant ramifications for the tournament and the global football community.
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