Iran Could Withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Amid Conflict with the United States

The Iranian national football team is considering the possibility of withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The reason may be the escalating tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel following recent military strikes and subsequent missile exchanges.

According to foreign media reports, Tehran is questioning the advisability of sending the national team to the tournament, given that all three of Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States. The team is set to play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and at Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran had planned to set up its training base in Tucson, Arizona.

In December, Iran was drawn into Group G, where it will face Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. The 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup in history to feature 48 teams and will be held across three countries.

Amid the escalation of the conflict, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) stated that it is “monitoring the situation” and remains in contact with the governments of the host countries. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström noted that it is premature to provide detailed comments but emphasized that the organization is focused on delivering a “safe tournament with the participation of all teams.”

If Iran officially withdraws, FIFA will need to quickly decide on possible sanctions and identify a replacement team. Such a scenario could impact the organization of the tournament, which is already being described as one of the largest in the history of world football.

No final decision has yet been made by Iran, and the situation continues to develop.