Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj has cast doubt over the national team's participation in the 2026 World Cup following US and Israeli attacks on the country. In an interview with sports news portal Varzesh3, Taj said: 'What is certain is that after these attacks, it's hard to look at the World Cup with hope.'
Iran are drawn in Group G and scheduled to play three matches in the United States: against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, and against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The tournament runs from June to July across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom told reporters on Saturday: 'It's too early to comment, but we will monitor developments around the world that could affect the tournament.' Withdrawing would cost Iran $10.5 million in FIFA participation fees and risk a ban from qualifying for the 2030 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
FIFA regulations state that if a team withdraws or is excluded, the governing body may replace it with another association. The most likely replacements for Asian qualifier Iran are Iraq or the United Arab Emirates, who finished ninth and tenth in qualifying and advanced to a playoff. Iraq can still qualify by beating Bolivia or Suriname in an inter-confederation playoff final later in March.
