Iran is set to participate in the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in just over 100 days. All of Iran’s group stage matches will occur in the U.S. However, uncertainty looms over their participation following President Donald Trump’s announcement of joint “major combat operations” between the United States and Israel against Iran on Saturday.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the death of longtime Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in airstrikes in Tehran, leading to Iranian missile and drone retaliations targeting Israel, U.S. military bases in the region, and neighboring Gulf nations.
This situation leaves many unanswered questions regarding Iran’s status in the World Cup.
Will Iran still participate in the World Cup?
Having participated in six previous World Cups, including the last three held in Brazil, Russia, and Qatar, Iran has already qualified for next summer’s tournament. They are drawn in Group G, with matches scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand and Belgium, followed by a final group match against Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Will they compete in the World Cup? It is too early to tell. With active conflict between the U.S. and Iran just beginning, a variety of scenarios could unfold. The president of Iran’s soccer federation has stated that he “does not know” if the team will participate.
“What we do know is that after this attack, we cannot look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, told sports portal Varzesh3.
Several circumstances could impede Iran’s participation — from a political boycott and concerns over team safety to potential intervention by the U.S. government. Should both teams finish second in their respective groups, it remains feasible for Iran to face the United States men’s national team in Arlington, Texas. (The USMNT defeated Iran 1-0 in their last encounter at the Qatar World Cup.)
A travel ban imposed by the Trump administration last June restricts Iranian nationals from entering the U.S., but it does allow exemptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events.”
It’s also worth noting that Iran is still engaged in international football. The Iranian women’s team is participating in the 2026 Asia Cup in Australia, having lost 3-0 to South Korea in their opening match. The head coach, Marziyeh Jafari, did not comment on the conflict during a prematch press conference when questioned.
What if Iran doesn’t compete in the World Cup?
If Iran is unable to compete in next summer’s World Cup, FIFA has outlined several contingency options, albeit with a lack of specific guidelines in its rulebook.
The regulations for the 2026 World Cup released last year permit FIFA to adjust the tournament format – for instance, they could convert Group G into a three-team group, although this might lead to fewer matches, disrupting existing television contracts. More likely, FIFA would seek to replace Iran with another team. However, identifying a suitable replacement for Iran could prove challenging.
The qualification process for Asian teams is complex, culminating in Iran topping Group A and securing automatic qualification for the World Cup. Saudi Arabia and Qatar joined Iran thereafter, while the United Arab Emirates and Iraq entered a playoff round. Iraq’s victory in that playoff tie last November granted them a place in FIFA’s inter-confederation playoffs, where they will compete against the winner between Bolivia and Suriname later this month.
If Iraq succeeds in qualifying, the UAE would be next in line as the available Asian team, though FIFA might consider external options and choose a team that already failed in the inter-confederation playoffs.
The World Cup is set to kick off on June 11, with Mexico facing South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.