Iran's potential withdrawal from the 2026 World Cup explained: What are FIFA's options?

By: CBS Sports Posted On: March 17, 2026 View: 14

Iran's participation at this summer's World Cup could be in doubt because of the ongoing war in the country, potentially creating logistical and geopolitical tensions for both the national team and FIFA alike as the tournament nears.

Though there are no confirmed changes to Iran's World Cup schedule as of this time, their participation has been in question since the U.S. and Israel's joint military operation began on Feb. 28. In the weeks since, a wide range of speculation – and dueling statements from notable figures – have offered more questions than answers even as looming deadlines approach, potentially impacting a wide range of teams in the process.

FIFA has yet to offer clarity on the situation, even as the Iran war impacts more than just that country's national team. Airspace is partially or fully restricted in several neighboring countries, forcing the cancellation of the Finalissima in Qatar and potentially impacting Iraq's ability to participate in a World Cup qualifier later this month. The knock-on effect of FIFA's decisions could also impact teams like Bolivia and Suriname, who are part of the same qualification path as Iraq, as well as the likes of Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, who are still slated to face Iran in the World Cup.

Here's what we know – and don't – about the situation.

Have Iran officially withdrawn from the World Cup?

FIFA has not commented on Iran's potential withdrawal from the World Cup, nor has there been confirmation from the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran. It is also unclear if the federation has begun a formal process to back out of participation at this summer's tournament.

What's been said so far?

March 11: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he met with U.S. President Donald Trump in a meeting that focused on Iran, among other topics. "We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026," the statement read in part. "During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States."

March 11: Iran minister of sport and youth Ahmad Donyamali said the national team would not take part as a direct result of the war. "Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Donyamali told state television while referencing former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during a series of missile strikes by the U.S and Israel. "Our children are not safe, and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence."

FIFA declined to comment to CBS Sports on Iran's potential withdrawal from the World Cup following Donyamali's comments, instead pointing towards Infantino's statement earlier that day.

March 12: Trump discouraged Iran's national team from traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup, the comments coming a week after he told Politico that he "really does not care" if Iran play at the World Cup. "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup," he said in a brief social media statement, "but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

March 13: The Iran national team issued a statement saying "no one can exclude" them from the World Cup, using the opportunity to criticize the U.S. for an inability to "provide security" for participating teams. "The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA -- not any individual, country," the team wrote on social media. "Iran's national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament. Certainly, no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of "host" yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event."

March 16: Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John said Iran are still slated to go to the World Cup during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "They are our member," he said. "We want them to play. As far as we know, Iran is playing. It's a very emotional moment, everybody is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day, it's the [Iran football] federation who should decide if they're playing and, as for today, the federation ... has told us that they're going to the World Cup."

March 17: Iran's embassy in Mexico issued a statement, which they have attributed to federation president Mehdi Taj, that they are in negotiations with FIFA to move their World Cup games from the U.S. to Iran. "When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," the statement said. "We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."

For its part, FIFA said in a statement to CBS Sports that the organization is preparing for the World Cup to be played as scheduled. "FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026," a spokesperson said. "FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025."

CBS Sports sources say relocating Iran's World Cup games to Mexico would be very unlikely because of the logisitics it would require to make such a change.

Iran's World Cup schedule

June 15 against New Zealand; SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
June 21 against Belgium; SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
June 26 against Egypt; Lumen Field, Seattle

What do FIFA's rules say about World Cup withdrawals?

FIFA addresses the matter in Article 6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations, though there is a lot of room for the governing body to make a decision at their discretion.

According to Regulation 6.5, "If a Participating Member Association withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the authorized FIFA organizing body (including the Tournament Operation Centre) shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary."

Additionally, Regulation 6.7 states, "If any Participating Member Association withdraws and/or is excluded from the FIFA World Cup 26, FIFA shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary. FIFA may decide to replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association."

What options does FIFA have?

FIFA has two options: either reduce Group G to three teams, decreasing the number of games the remaining teams would play, or replace Iran with another team.

The first option could complicate the bracket for the knockout phases. FIFA's choice to expand the World Cup to 48 teams means 32 teams will advance to the knockout rounds – the winners and runners-up of all 12 groups plus eight third-place teams. The third-place teams will be ranked against each other to determine their qualification and placement in the round of 32. If Group G is reduced to three teams, the team that finishes third in the group could be at a disadvantage because they would not have the option to pick as many points as the third-place teams in other groups.

Which teams could replace Iran?

Should FIFA choose to replace Iran, they would likely select another team from the Asian Football Confederation to maintain the quotas the governing body established before World Cup qualification began. Which team, though, is unclear.

AFC's World Cup qualification format was not exactly straightforward, though that can also be said of several other confederations. There were five rounds in total, Iran booking their spot in the third round, the earliest possible round a team could secure qualification to the World Cup. The last team to miss out on a direct berth to the World Cup is Iraq, who technically still have a shot – they beat the United Arab Emirates in the fifth and final round of AFC World Cup qualification, securing a spot in this month's intercontinental playoff in the process. There's just one issue – Iraq are dealing with their own World Cup qualification perils because of the Iran war.

Iraq head coach Graham Arnold asked FIFA to reschedule the team's World Cup qualifier, currently slated for March 31 in Mexico, because airspace in that country is closed until April 1. Arnold himself theorized that Iraq would be the recipient of Iran's direct berth should they withdraw, though there is no confirmation that FIFA would go with that approach at this time, and otherwise suggested that Iraq play their intercontinental playoff match in the U.S. a week before the World Cup instead.

Should Iraq receive Iran's spot before the March 31 match, their spot in the intercontinental playoff could theoretically go to the United Arab Emirates. Airspace in that country, though, is partially restricted because of the Iran war and Arnold himself is stuck in Dubai because of the regional conflict.