Iran to boycott the World Cup due to war?

Israel and the United States have attacked Iran. Tehran has retaliated, and the death toll is reportedly rising by the hour. It has also been announced that Ali Khamenei has been killed. Missiles are flying across the Middle East and a fierce war is underway. The conflict has escalated dramatically. Iran is targeting sites inside Israel as well as American military bases across the region — in Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials say they launched a “preventive strike,” while Donald Trump has called on Iranians to change their government. Meanwhile, the football world is asking — will Iran play at the World Cup? Iran secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup back in March, but they could make a radical decision. One of the options reportedly under consideration is to boycott the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Given today’s developments, such a possibility would not come as a major surprise.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, confirmed that the chances of such a move are not insignificant at this moment. He is far from optimistic. Sports officials are expected to deliberate in the coming days, and the World Cup could become a political chessboard. Some speculate that Iran might even act preemptively to avoid potential expulsion. Such an outcome cannot be ruled out. Russia remains under sanctions, with its national team and clubs excluded from international competitions. It is not impossible that something similar could happen to Iran, regardless of who initiated the conflict. Consistency has not always been football’s strongest suit — Israel is often cited as an example in such debates. Interestingly, Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches on American soil: against New Zealand (June 15, Los Angeles), Belgium (June 21, Los Angeles), and Egypt (June 26, Seattle). In theory, they could even face the United States in the Round of 16.

Iran without their best player because of Trump?

One key question arises: what would FIFA do if such a matchup were to occur? That is just one of many possible questions. For now, the first issue is whether Iran will renounce its place at the World Cup — earned fairly on the pitch — or whether and how FIFA will respond. Football, understandably, is on the margins in a situation like this. Decisions will be made behind closed doors — both in Iran and at the global level. Some steps have already been taken: the domestic league has been suspended indefinitely, and no football will be played in Iran for the foreseeable future.