Less than three months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Irandecided to decline its participation. The person in charge of setting the stage was the Iranian Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, who severely questioned the United States and assured that the current context does not allow us tothink about the participation
of the national team.
“Because this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, the conditions are not in place for us to participate in the World Cup,” the official said in statements to local media outlet iribnews.
Iran's sports minister ruled out Iran's participation in the World Cup
Along the same lines, he argued that the political and military situation prevents any type of sports planning. “In less than a year, two wars have been imposed on us and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. So wedefinitely don't have any chance of participating in this way,” he added.
The minister's statements come shortly after the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, assured that the US president Donald Trump had confirmed to him that Iran would be “welcome” to compete in the tournament.
The candidates to replace Iran
With the departure of Iran, the FIFA regulations contemplate different scenarios. According to article 6.7, the body's Council can replace the federation that retires with another association: "If a participating federation withdraws or is excluded from the FIFA 26 World Cup, FIFAwill decide at its sole discretion in this regard and will take whatever actions it deems necessary. FIFA may decide, in particular, to replace that federation with another.”
In that scenario, it is most likely that the selection that enters is from the AFC. If the Asian quota is maintained (8.5 places), the main candidate to fill the place would be the Iraq National Team, which entered the international repechage. Another alternative would be for the United Arab Emirates National Team, defeated in the continental 'play-off', to inherit the vacancy or to accept the
repechage. Iraq and the US would be the main candidates to replace Iran If the Iranian national team were indeed replaced, the country that would enter would be part of Group G.
There he should face Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all three games scheduled on US soil: two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle
.
On the other hand, the regulation establishes that the economic sanctions for Iran for its resignation will be 250,000 Swiss francs for being before the 30 days before the contest. In addition, it must return the funds granted for preparation and participation, 1.5 million and 10.5 million dollars respectively, and could be subject to an exclusion from future
FIFA competitions.
Background of national teams that resigned from the World
Cup
The history of the World Cup records several cases of resignation and replacement. In 1930, the desertion of European powers such as Germany and Italy opened the door to the participation of selected others such as Yugoslavia, Romania
and Belgium.
In 1950, India automatically agreed after the withdrawal of its Asian rivals (the Philippines, Indonesia and Burma). Finally, the Indian country did not compete in the tournament either, officially due to economic and preparation problems, although it is rumored that it was because they were not
