‘Sports cold war’: How the Middle East conflict could disrupt the World Cup
By Al Jazeera, March 6, 2026Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has come under scrutiny amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with the tournament less than 100 days away.
The global sporting event will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11 to July 19. Iran is among the 48 nations expected to travel to North America at least a week before the opening match.
United States President Donald Trump said he is indifferent about whether Iran participates in the tournament.
“I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes,” Trump told Politico on Tuesday.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday that reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and sparked a regional conflict spreading across several countries.
Tehran responded by launching waves of missiles and drones toward Israel and military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate.
Following the escalation, Iran’s place at the World Cup has become uncertain, with officials from both the Iranian football federation and FIFA giving cautious responses regarding the country’s participation.
“After this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said in comments to the sports outlet Varzesh3.
Iran was the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, but the ongoing conflict has now cast doubt over their involvement.
Uncertain situation
Sports geopolitics expert Simon Chadwick said Iran’s participation is now in serious doubt, given the conflict between one of the host nations and a participating country.
“Ultimately, the diplomatic solution could be that Iran itself steps aside and withdraws from the tournament,” said Chadwick, a professor at Emlyon Business School in Shanghai.
He also noted that allowing Iranian players, officials and medical staff into the United States could become politically complicated.
“Given that they will have to play their matches in the US, it is difficult to see how that would work,” he said.
Chadwick added that withdrawing from the tournament would be a major decision for Iran and not one the country would take lightly.
The last time a country withdrew from a FIFA World Cup for political reasons was in 1950, when Argentina pulled out due to disagreements with the Brazilian Football Confederation.
“We are in uncharted territory here,” Chadwick said.
He noted that large-scale boycotts have historically occurred more often during Olympic Games rather than football World Cups.
Financial and logistical implications
Chadwick said any withdrawal could carry both political and financial consequences.
“We are living in very complex and sensitive times,” he said. “But the financial consequences of walking away from the world’s biggest sporting event would also be significant.”
Despite the tensions, FIFA has not made a firm statement about Iran’s participation.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the organisation is monitoring developments closely.
“We will continue to monitor developments and communicate with host governments,” he said.
Iran’s matches in the tournament are currently scheduled to be played on the US West Coast, including two group stage games in Los Angeles, where there is a large Iranian community.
Chadwick said relocating those matches to Canada or Mexico is unlikely at this stage.
“It would be extremely unusual to move games to another country to accommodate one specific team,” he said.
Possible sporting consequences
If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, the situation could create broader consequences in international sport.
Chadwick warned that such a scenario could push global sport toward deeper geopolitical divisions.
“Politically, it could take us toward a new sports cold war,” he said.
He noted that Russia has previously explored alternative global sporting events, such as the proposed Peace Games, which could attract countries facing political tensions with Western institutions.
However, Chadwick believes efforts may still be made to include Iran in the tournament.
“The last thing FIFA wants is a country being excluded or failing to show up,” he said.
He added that the World Cup could potentially play a diplomatic role if the conflict eventually stabilises.
“If a new Iran emerges after the conflict, the World Cup could become part of rebuilding diplomatic ties and reintegrating Iran into the international community,” he said.