How would a war in Iran affect the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is approaching, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19. But an unprecedented challenge looms, threatening the tournament’s success: a war between the United States and Iran.

The war has sparked global concern about the participation of national teams, particularly the Iranian national team, and its direct impact on stadium preparations, the organization of friendly matches, and fan safety.

This comes amidst widespread public demonstrations in the United States protesting the war, and record-high oil prices that could further increase the tournament’s costs.

Doubts surround Iran’s participation

The Iranian national team was the sixth team to secure its place in the World Cup, following the three host nations, Japan, and New Zealand. However, the war has raised questions about the team’s ability to travel and participate in the tournament.

Iranian officials, including the head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, and the Minister of Sports, Ahmad Doniamale, have emphasized the difficulty of participating in the United States. However, the Iranian position has softened somewhat in recent days, though no official announcement has yet been made.

Iran’s potential withdrawal posed a significant challenge for FIFA, headed by Gianni Infantino, who visited the Iranian national team’s final training camp in Turkey to emphasize that everything possible would be done to ensure the team’s participation in the tournament.

Impact of the War on Team Preparations

The war in Iran directly impacted team preparations, leading to the postponement or relocation of friendly matches during March.

Countries like Qatar and Jordan were preparing to host preparatory tournaments before they were moved to other countries, most notably Turkey, which hosted two friendly matches for the Iranian national team.

Protests in the United States

Weeks before the start of the World Cup, the streets of the United States witnessed widespread protests against President Donald Trump’s policies and his decision to wage war on Iran. This raised concerns within FIFA regarding security and the potential scale of the demonstrations during the tournament, especially given that the United States was the primary host nation.

Surge in Oil Prices

The conflict has led to an unprecedented rise in oil prices, which will impact preparations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and increase the tournament’s operational costs, including ticket prices and accommodation for fans.

Football and World Unity: A Slogan on Paper

Despite Gianni Infantino’s claims that football unites the world, a host nation waging war on a participating nation undermines this message in practice. While millions of fans will attend the World Cup, the political and economic realities weaken the sense of global unity that football champions.

This report highlights the unprecedented challenges facing the 2026 World Cup as a result of military and political tensions that could affect team participation and the preparations of host nations.