FIFA’s roadmap to the 2026 World Cup just hit a geopolitical pothole. With the tournament less than a year away, fresh questions are being raised about Iran’s participation, especially if they’re drawn into a group that would force them to play matches on U.S. soil.
The USA, one of the three co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico
Why the drama? Let’s break it down. The U.S., one of the three co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico, is currently locked in military tension with Iran. Add to that the U.S. travel ban affecting Iranian citizens, and suddenly, we’ve got more than just football fixtures to worry about.
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Although the travel ban has certain exemptions (think athletes and staff), FIFA’s current regulations don’t offer any provisions to stop Iran from playing in the U.S. And while Iran has qualified for its fourth straight World Cup, things could get tricky unless they land in Group A, the only group guaranteed to play all matches in Mexico.
If Iran finishes top of their group
If they finish top of their group, they’ll stick to Mexico for the last-32 and potentially last-16. But should they defy all odds and reach the quarters, a feat they’ve never managed, they’d have to pack their bags for the U.S. That’s where things could go nuclear, quite literally.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is now under the spotlight.
He’s long been cozy with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who just recently authorised bombing raids on Iranian nuclear sites. The timing? Impeccably awkward.
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The World Cup draw, set for December, is expected to be a pressure cooker. While Infantino and the FIFA Council will have the final say, the organising committee chaired by UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin, will likely play a key role. Ceferin’s past decision to separate Ukraine and Belarus in UEFA competitions after the Russian invasion could be the precedent FIFA needs to avoid a PR disaster.
the Iran-USA showdown might be the off-pitch story of World Cup 2026
Back in 2022, draw constraints were largely football-based, like avoiding two teams from the same confederation in one group (except Europe). But this time around, political landmines might force FIFA to rewrite its playbook.
From nuclear tension to travel bans, the Iran-USA showdown might be the off-pitch story of World Cup 2026. And come December, all eyes will be on that draw to see if football can avoid becoming a pawn in global politics.
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