2 Countries That Could Replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup Emerge
- FIFA’s tournament regulations allow for a qualified team to be replaced if it withdraws or is unable to fulfil its World Cup fixtures
- Iranian officials have expressed doubt about their team’s participation in the 2026 edition amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
- FIFA emphasised that it is monitoring developments and is focused on ensuring a safe World Cup with full participation from all teams
Iran could be replaced by two different nations if they withdraw or are unable to fulfil their fixtures at the 2026 World Cup, according to FIFA regulations.
The United States and Israel reportedly coordinated the first of their attacks on the Iranian capital, Tehran, in the early hours of February 28, 2026.
Source: Getty Images
US President Donald Trump said the purpose of the strikes was 'to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime' after negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme broke down.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed in a US and Israeli airstrike on his office in Tehran on Saturday evening.
Tehran has since launched retaliatory attacks targeting various US and Israeli military bases across parts of the Middle East, including in Qatar and Jordan.
Iran could withdraw from 2026 World Cup
From a sporting perspective, Iran is scheduled to travel to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico in June.
The country was drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, having avoided a potential group-stage meeting with the US.
FIFA’s only public comment so far has come from general secretary Mattias Grafström.
Speaking via ESPN, Grafström, who has held multiple roles within FIFA since Gianni Infantino became president in 2016, said:
“We had a meeting today, and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world. We had the finals draw in Washington, in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. We will continue to communicate, as we always do, with three [host] governments, as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.”
If Iran withdraws from the tournament, or it is otherwise determined that they cannot play their matches, FIFA statutes allow for a replacement. The regulations state that, provided there is sufficient time, the team would be replaced with a nominated alternate, often the direct runner-up from the relevant qualifying play-off or highest-ranked non-qualified team from that confederation.”
2 countries that could replace Iran
In practical terms, this leaves FIFA with three potential solutions.
One option would be to award the qualification spot to the United Arab Emirates, who were the highest non-qualifier behind Iran in their Asian qualifying group and also lost their confederation play-off to Iraq.
The UAE have reportedly intercepted aerial drones from Iran during the early days of the current conflict, with falling debris causing significant structural damage and forcing the temporary closure of the Gulf nation’s main airport.
Source: Getty Images
Another possibility would be to replace Iran with Iraq, who have already progressed to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Iraq are set to face the winner of the play-off semi-final between Bolivia and Suriname in Guadalupe, Mexico, on March 31, with the victor of that final securing a place at the World Cup.
In that scenario, FIFA would need to act swiftly but could potentially allocate Iraq’s vacant inter-confederation play-off spot to the UAE.
If there is not enough time to find a replacement, FIFA could instead restructure Group G and proceed with a three-team group consisting of Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup.
9 countries that boycotted the World Cup
In a previous publication, YEN.com.gh took a closer look at the nine countries that have historically pulled out of FIFA World Cup competition, putting Iran’s recent hint of a possible 2026 withdrawal into perspective.
Throughout the tournament’s history, boycotts and walkouts have occasionally altered football’s biggest stage – none more striking than the collective absence of every African nation from the 1966 World Cup.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
