There is suspense over Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026. This football extravaganza is to be jointly hosted by America, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will start from Mexico City on June 11. The final match will be played in New York. Due to America being the co-host, Iran is not sure to play in this tournament. Amid the ongoing war with Israel and America, Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmed Dunyamali said on Wednesday (March 11) that the country’s football team cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ahmed Dunyamali told state TV that it is not possible for the team to participate in the tournament in the circumstances created after the assassination of his country’s supreme leader in American-Israeli attacks. He said that our children are not safe and the team’s participation cannot be ensured in these circumstances. The day after Dunyamali’s statement, US President Donald Trump said that the Iranian team is welcome in the World Cup, but keeping in mind their life and safety, it would be better for them not to come to America.
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Iranian team wants to play World Cup
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said this week that Iranian players would be welcomed at the World Cup despite the war. Infantino had written that this was assured by Trump himself. However, Trump again increased the suspense by giving a statement on the safety of Iranian players. Now Iran’s football team has responded to Trump’s statement. Iran’s National Football League responded to Trump on its Instagram account and wrote that no one can throw Iran out of the tournament. America is the host country and if it cannot ensure the safety of the players of the participating teams, then it should be held responsible for it.
The statement from the Iranian team further said that the World Cup is a historical and international event and its governing body is FIFA and not any one country. The Iran national team was one of the first teams to qualify for this major tournament. No one can take Iran’s national team out of the World Cup. If anyone should be excluded, then only the host country, which does not have the ability to provide security to the players of the teams participating in the event.
It can be inferred from this statement of the Iranian team that it wants to play the FIFA World Cup but considering the current circumstances, the chances of its participation are very less. In such a situation, let us know what action FIFA will take against the Iranian team if it does not play in this tournament.
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Iran may be banned
If Iran’s football team does not play in the World Cup, it will not only be fined but may also have to face a ban. According to FIFA rules, if any team withdraws from the 2026 World Cup, it will be fined heavily and can also be banned. The rules state, ‘If a team withdraws from the FIFA World Cup 2026 up to 30 days before the first match of the tournament, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will impose a fine of at least 2 lakh 75 thousand euros (approximately Rs 2.53 crore).’ If less than 30 days are left for the start of the tournament and a team withdraws its name, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will impose double the fine.
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