Iran face possible 2026 World Cup ban
LONDON: Iran could be barred from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following escalating tensions and rising fears of war with one of the tournament's host nations — the United States.
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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"China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East,' the ministry said. The European Union's top diplomat said Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but she urged those involved in the conflict to show restraint. "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on social media. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Iran's nuclear facilities "represented a danger for the entire area' but hoped the action could lead to de-escalation in the conflict and negotiations. Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the US airstrikes "an extraordinarily dangerous escalation of a conflict that already best be described as a tinderbox.' 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Both countries are members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership. But Wong said the U.S. had been clear that "this was a unilateral strike.' Left-wing Latin American governments expressed fierce opposition to the U.S. strikes. Iran-allied Venezuela called the attacks "illegal, unjustifiable and extremely dangerous.' Colombian President Gustavo Petro said they were an insult to the Middle East. Chile's President Gabriel Boric said they violated "rules we have established as humanity.' Mexico's Foreign Ministry made "an urgent call for peace.' In contrast, Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei, a loyal ally of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised the attacks on social media. "Terrorism, never again,' his spokesperson said. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters it was crucial to calm the situation as soon as possible, adding that Iranian nuclear weapons development also must be prevented. He declined to comment on whether he supported the U.S. attacks on Iran. Vietnam called on parties to continue negotiation efforts and respect humanitarian law and International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. "Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating and complex conflict in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability,' Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said in the statement. Thailand called on all parties to immediately stop all acts of violence and seek a peaceful resolution. "Thailand expresses its grave concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly in light of the recently intensified attacks and expansion of conflict by other parties, which pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability and risk further escalation, all of which is dangerous and affecting countless civilians," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal for peace during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square, calling for international diplomacy to "silence the weapons.' After an open reference to the "alarming' situation in Iran, the first American pontiff stressed that "today more than ever, humanity cries out and invokes peace and it is a cry that demands reason and must not be stifled.' Pope Leo urged every member of the international community to take up their moral responsibility to "stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.' - AP
