Iran face possible 2026 World Cup ban
Iran became the sixth Asian team to qualify for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada next year.
But with recent airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities drawing global attention, fears of a full-scale military conflict are mounting, and Team Melli's place in the tournament now hangs in the balance.
A suspension is a real possibility, with FIFA having a precedent of barring countries involved in war or international conflict.
Russia, for example, remain suspended from all FIFA competitions following their invasion of Ukraine. In the 1990s, both FIFA and UEFA banned Yugoslavia due to the Balkan wars.
Given the rising tensions, it appears increasingly unlikely that Iran's players will be allowed to set foot on American soil.
Even if Iran are cleared to play, they could be forced to play without their supporters as the country remains under strict US travel restrictions.
These restrictions, introduced by Donald Trump in March, also apply to more than 40 countries including Afghanistan, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Any travel exemptions would likely apply only to players and officials, leaving fans locked out of the tournament.
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