Have Iran pulled out of the World Cup 2026, which team could replace them, and potential ramifications

Plans for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada face uncertainty as Iran, one of the 48 participants, has cast serious doubt on its involvement.

Major military conflict in the Middle East, coupled with the United States introducing travel bans for certain nations ahead of the tournament, has put Iran’s place in jeopardy.

While US President Donald Trump has admitted “he doesn’t care” if the country takes part in the World Cup, the country may be left with no choice but to pull out of tournament, which is scheduled to begin in June.

Here’s everything you need to know about Iran and its potential withdrawal from the World Cup 2026:

Iran's participation in the World Cup 2026 is in "serious doubt." | Getty Images

Why is Iran’s World Cup 2026 place in doubt?

Iran’s participation in the World Cup this summer is in serious doubt due to the military conflict in the Middle East, with recent airstrikes from the United States and Israel resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched attacks against United States allies and assets in the Middle East.

Iranian soccer president Mehdi Taj has claimed that the Iranian national team cannot be expected to "look forward to the World Cup with hope", and added that high-ranking sports officials within the country make the final decision on their potential withdrawal from the tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed he hopes Iran will not pull out of the tournament, telling Sky Sports: "I hope so much, it will be a moment of peace. I hope we can contribute to unite the world a little bit. The world really needs it."

Meanwhile, FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said: "It's premature to comment on it in detail, but of course we will monitor the developments around all issues around the world, and I think we had the final draw in Washington where all teams participated, and of course our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating."

The global sporting event is scheduled to begin on June 11, and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran’s first two Group games against New Zealand and Belgium are scheduled to take place at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with their final game against Egypt being held at the Lumen Field in Seattle.

Have Iran pulled out of the World Cup 2026?

Iran are still currently in this summer’s World Cup, and no formal withdrawal request has been submitted to FIFA. However, Taj has claimed that it is "unlikely" the national team will be able to compete at the tournament.

US President Donald Trump says he “doesn’t care” if Iran play at the World Cup this summer. | AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Who could replace Iran at the World Cup 2026?

Iran has not officially withdrawn; however, there’s a plan in place should this change. If Iran withdrew from the tournament or were excluded from it, then FIFA would have the sole discretion to choose a replacement. It is likely that a nation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) would replace them to ensure regional balance, with two nations currently the frontrunners to replace them.

• Reports claim that Iraq is the most likely nation to be added to the competition should Iran no longer take part. Iraq currently have a scheduled international playoff against Bolivia or Suriname on March 31, but they could be elevated to direct qualification, with their playoff spot then filled by another team.
• Another option would be United Arab Emirates, who are the highest ranked side in the AFC that failed to qualify. Should Iraq win their World Cup playoff, the United Arab Emirates would be the most likely replacement for Iran.
• The third, less likely option, is that FIFA could opt to not replace Iran at all, and instead reconfigure Group G (which includes Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand) as a three-team group.

Potential penalties if Iran pulled out of the World Cup

• First and foremost, Iran would essentially be forfeiting around $10.5million (£7.9million) in prize and preparation money if they withdrew from the World Cup, while FIFA could also impose fines of up to $642,000 (£480,768) for a late withdrawal.
• FIFA could also have the option to exclude the Iranian federation from future international competitions, such as the 2030 World Cup.
• Another potential issue with the withdrawal of Iran could be a reorganisation of Group G's schedule, potentially impacting TV deals and knockout stage pairings. While this is not 100 per cent required, a new nation being added to the group could see this level of impact on the games themselves, which are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle.
• At present, Iranian citizens are currently banned from entering the USA, which is a further issue for travelling fans. Although currently, an exemption exists for athletes participating in major sporting events. While athletes were technically exempt, several Iranian football officials were denied visas for official events, such as the December 2025 draw in the American capital of Washington DC.

Sign up to The Scotsman’s daily football newsletter to get unrivalled Scottish football news and analysis - subscribe for free here.