Iran’s declaration that it cannot take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has created uncertainty around the tournament and forced world football’s governing body to consider how it would respond if a qualified team withdraws.
Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday that the country cannot participate in the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
His comments come after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago that killed the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a region-wide conflict in the Gulf.
Iran were drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in last December’s draw, with all three of their group matches scheduled to take place in the United States – two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran was also the only qualified nation absent from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta.
Despite the minister’s comments, Iran has not formally withdrawn from the tournament, and FIFA has yet to comment on the situation.
Only hours before Donyamali’s statement, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had cited an assurance from US President Donald Trump that Iran would be “welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.” However, Trump on Thursday stated that he believed it was not appropriate that Iran be there "for their own life and safety."
If Iran were to confirm its withdrawal, FIFA would have to determine how to deal with a sudden vacancy in the 48-team competition.
Under FIFA’s World Cup regulations, the governing body has broad authority if a team withdraws from the finals.
Article Six allows FIFA to impose financial penalties on the federation concerned, while also giving it the discretion to invite any nation it chooses to fill the vacant spot -- or even proceed without a replacement.
James Kitching, FIFA’s former director of football regulatory, told Reuters that the rules give the organisation significant flexibility.
“They have full discretion to do whatever they want in the case of a team withdrawing,” Kitching said.
Iran secured qualification for the tournament by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifiers, meaning a replacement from Asia could appear the most logical option.
Iraq, who are scheduled to take part in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico this month, and the UAE have both been mentioned as potential candidates.
However, the ongoing conflict has disrupted travel in the Middle East, complicating Iraq’s preparations for their playoff match against either Bolivia or Suriname.
Kitching suggested FIFA may wait until the remaining playoffs are completed before making any decision.
Although withdrawals from the World Cup finals are extremely rare in modern times, there are a few historical precedents.
In 1950, India, Scotland and Turkey all withdrew from the tournament in Brazil, largely due to travel costs, logistical difficulties and domestic decisions. FIFA attempted to find replacements but eventually proceeded with only 13 teams.
Uruguay, the defending champions in 1934, boycotted the tournament in Italy after several European teams had refused to travel to South America for the inaugural World Cup in 1930. The competition went ahead without the title holders.
In 1966, all African nations boycotted the World Cup in England to protest against the limited qualification places allocated to their continent. The protest later led FIFA to grant Africa a guaranteed World Cup spot from the 1970 tournament.
With Iran yet to formally withdraw, FIFA now faces a situation rarely encountered in the modern era -- one that could require a quick decision as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues.
