The 2026 World Cup is in turmoil because of Iran.

The risk of Iran missing the 2026 World Cup is not just about one team being eliminated, but also a test of the resilience and limits of football amidst geopolitical upheavals.

The Iranian national team is a regular participant in the World Cup.

With just over 100 days before kick-off, the 2026 World Cup faces a scenario no organizer wants: a team that has already qualified may withdraw due to political instability. At the heart of this storm is Iran.

The possibility of Iran missing the 2026 World Cup.

The Iranian national team qualified through the Asian regional qualifiers in March 2025, securing their place in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup. The draw in Washington in December concluded with the West Asian representatives ready for their fourth consecutive appearance at the world's biggest football tournament.

On the pitch, it's the result of a stable and highly individualistic team. But off the pitch, things are becoming increasingly fragile.

Following the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, tensions escalated rapidly. A chain reaction spread throughout the Gulf region, creating instability that extended beyond purely political spheres. Football, as usual, became part of this picture.

The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has for the first time acknowledged the possibility that the national team may not be able to qualify for the World Cup. Speaking on national television, he said it was "very difficult to aim for the World Cup" under the current circumstances, while emphasizing that the final decision would be made by the authorities.

It wasn't a declaration of withdrawal, but it was a signal enough to make the football world wary.

There is currently a possibility that Iran will miss the 2026 World Cup.

The issue here isn't simply about changing one name on the list of 48 teams. If Iran is absent, the structure of Group G will have to be adjusted.

Alternative scenarios, such as Iraq being promoted or the UAE replacing them in the play-offs, are merely technical solutions. More importantly, the message they send is: can the World Cup be completely detached from geopolitics?

From its headquarters in Zurich, FIFA maintained a cautious tone. Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the organization was closely monitoring the situation and that "it is too early to comment in detail."

The goal, according to him, remains a safe World Cup with all participating teams. That's a perfectly diplomatic statement: neither confirming nor denying, and not rushing into anything.

But history shows that football is rarely immune to upheaval. The 1978 World Cup took place amidst military rule in Argentina. The 2012 London Olympics were still held after riots.

Major tournaments are often seen as symbols of stability, even tools for asserting national prestige. Therefore, the likelihood of the tournament being canceled is almost zero. The only question is who will participate.

If Iran misses out on the 2026 World Cup

Journalist Philippe Auclair noted that the situation remains volatile and could change if Iran experiences political shifts in the coming months. He emphasized that the national team has long been seen by the people as a symbol of the country rather than of the government.

That observation touches upon an important reality: for many periods, Iranian football has been a place where people have expressed their aspirations and dissenting voices.

FIFA is facing a challenge.

Therefore, if Iran doesn't qualify for the World Cup, it's not just a professional loss. It's also an emotional blow to millions of fans.

The World Cup was originally built on the idea of ​​the globalization of football, where all cultures converge. A spot left vacant due to political conflict will serve as a reminder that the pitch is not an isolated space.

Conversely, the tournament still has to run. The US, Canada, and Mexico have invested heavily in the first expanded World Cup with 48 teams. Billions of dollars in television rights, sponsorships, and tourism don't allow for a sudden shutdown.

If Iran withdraws or is eliminated, FIFA will look for an alternative. The commercial machine of modern football is not easily stopped.

But whatever the final decision, this incident draws a clear line. Football can convey a message of peace, but it cannot negate geopolitical realities.

The 2026 World Cup should have been a story about tactics, star power, and the dream of winning the championship. Instead, it is becoming a mirror reflecting a world in turmoil.

And in that picture, Iran stands at the eye of the storm. If they appear in Los Angeles on June 15th as scheduled, it will be a victory for stability. If not, the World Cup will still go on, but it will be missing a piece, and a reminder that football, no matter how big it gets, cannot be separated from the times.

Source: https://znews.vn/world-cup-2026-chao-dao-vi-iran-post1631486.html