JAKARTA - Iran is confirmed to withdraw from the list of participants in the 2026 World Cup which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico on June 11 to July 19. The decision leaves one empty space in the list of participants, so who will replace Iran in the 2026 World Cup?
The Iranian Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, confirmed that the Iranian National Team (Timnas) will not participate in the 2026 World Cup final round. The reason is related to the attacks carried out by the United States (US) and Israel on Iran.
The attack even made Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, 2026. The attack carried out by the US and Israel is called Donyamali, making it impossible for Iran to take part in the world's prestigious football tournament which will take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
"Given that this corrupt regime has killed our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the 2026 World Cup," Donyamali told state television as reported by Reuters, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
With this statement, the position left by Iran should be filled immediately. If referring to FIFA regulations, the strongest candidates who could replace Iran are Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Iraq is likely to directly enter the 2026 World Cup group stage, while the UAE will take the Inter-Confederation Playoff slot as both have the best record by qualifying for the fifth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification in the Asian Zone.
"According to FIFA regulations, there are nominated alternatives, often the runner-up team from the relevant qualifying playoff or the highest ranked non-qualifying team from the confederation."
"Iraq will be the front-runner if they fail to qualify through this month's Intercontinental Playoff final against Bolivia or Suriname."
"If Iraq wins and qualifies automatically, the most likely country to replace Iran is the United Arab Emirates, who lost the Confederation Playoff (Fifth Round) match against Iraq last year," wrote the Daily Mail quoted Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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