Iran’s national team could be left out of the 2026 World Cup because of the current political situation, according to ESPN. The tournament will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and any change involving Iran would force FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to consider a replacement from Asia.
At the moment, Iraq is seen as the most likely team to take Iran’s place if such a decision is made. On March 31, Iraq is scheduled to face the winner of the Bolivia vs Suriname pairing in the intercontinental playoff final. If Iraq loses that match, it could still receive a World Cup spot as the next Asian side in line should Iran be unable to participate.
If Iraq wins the playoff and qualifies directly for the tournament, attention would then turn to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE previously lost to Iraq in the final stage of Asian qualifying and is viewed as the next candidate among AFC teams. For now, the situation remains uncertain, but Iraq and the UAE appear to be the main contenders if Iran is removed from the 2026 World Cup lineup.
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