The US and Israeli attacks on Iran have put the Iranian soccer team’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in doubt.
Iran responded to the attacks, which began on Saturday, by attacking Israeli and US military bases in the Middle East with missiles and drones.
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As of Monday morning, at least 555 people had been killed across Iran and 10 in Israel. Three American soldiers died in combat, while 38 people died in other nations in the region.
The World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, where Iran is scheduled to play all of its group matches. But if the conflict does not end, the logistics of the tournament and Iran’s role in it will be called into question.
Here’s what we know so far:
When is the FIFA World Cup and what is Iran’s schedule in the tournament?
The World Cup will begin on June 11 in Mexico, while Canada and the United States will host their first match the following day. The final will be played on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York.
Iran is in Group G of the tournament with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand and is scheduled to play all of its matches on the west coast of the United States.
Here is Team Melli’s group stage schedule:
- June 15: Iran vs New Zealand at 9:00 p.m. (05:00 GMT on June 16) at Los Angeles Stadium
- June 21: Belgium vs Iran at 3:00 p.m. (23:00 GMT) at Los Angeles Stadium
- June 26: Egypt vs Iran at 11:00 p.m. (07:00 GMT on June 27) at Seattle Stadium
Will Iran play in the FIFA World Cup?
While Iran has not officially withdrawn from the tournament, a senior Iranian football official admitted that the team’s participation has been questioned.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot wait for the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), told local sports portal Varzesh3 on Sunday.
“It is not possible to say exactly, but there will surely be a response,” Taj added when asked if FFIRI or the Iranian government would reconsider the country’s participation in the tournament.
“This will surely be studied by the country’s highest sports authorities and there will be a decision about what is going to happen.”
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom has said that world football’s governing body is monitoring the conflict and the situation arising from it.
“I read the news (about Iran) this morning the same way you did,” Grafstrom said at the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday, according to an ESPN report.
“We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.”
With just over three months until the tournament, FIFA said it will “continue to communicate with host governments.”
Will the Iranian team and fans be allowed into the United States for the World Cup?
While Iran’s games are scheduled at venues on the US West Coast, which is home to a large Iranian community, Team Melli fans hoping to travel to the tournament from Iran and support their team will find it difficult.
Iran was among 12 countries included in the travel ban imposed by US President Donald Trump in June.
The ban was met with criticism from Iran, which called it “racist” and a sign of deep-seated hostility toward Iranians and Muslims.
What happens if Iran does not participate in the World Cup?
There is no precedent for a team to withdraw from the FIFA World Cup, considered the largest sporting event in the world.
Teams that have been sanctioned and banned by global and regional football bodies have been excluded from the tournament, with Russia’s ban being the most recent.
If Iran were to withdraw from the tournament, they would likely be replaced by another nation to ensure the smooth running of the tournament.
Because Iran is part of the Asian Football Confederation and qualified for one of the region’s World Cup berths, the replacement would likely come from Asia, although organizers have not confirmed whether that would be the case.
Depending on its position at the end of the qualification process, the United Arab Emirates could be the next country in line. However, if Iraq, which hopes to qualify through an intercontinental playoff, fails to book a place, it could overtake the United Arab Emirates as a replacement for Iran.
What is Iran’s record in the FIFA World Cup?
Iran is currently ranked 20th in the world and second in Asia.
They have appeared in the World Cup on seven occasions with consecutive appearances in the last three editions, but have failed to advance past the group stage.
