The US-Iran war, in which Iranian forces have attacked US bases in several Gulf states, has threatened the staging of several sporting events, including the Bahrain-Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (F1) and the final between Spain and Argentina in Doha, Qatar. However, this is not the only football event under threat. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than three months away and is scheduled to be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States, an event that has not been free of controversy due to Mexican cartel violence and exorbitant ticket prices, and the general volatility in bilateral relations between the United States and Mexico has raised the threat of war between FIF and the United States and Canada. situation, largely due to the controversial statements of US President Donald Trump.
While Trump has “welcomed” Iran to participate in the 2026 soccer World Cup, in the same breath, he alluded to the threat to the lives and safety of Iranian footballers if they choose to participate. It overshadowed the participation of Iran, which was the first country from Asia to qualify. However, before Trump’s statement, Iran announced its intention to withdraw from the World Cup after the United States assassinated its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.A withdrawal, if any, would be an unprecedented move in the modern football era, and has drawn comparisons to the Bangladesh cricket team’s recently concluded T20 World Cup over security concerns, which were questioned by global governing body the ICC. However, after some negotiations, no sanctions were imposed on Bangladesh. Read this also If Iran withdraws from the FIFA World Cup, who can come?The World Cup, being a FIFA event, has the ultimate responsibility of providing a safe and secure environment, supported by local security authorities and the police. If FIFA certifies a safe environment and Iran still chooses to withdraw, FIFA may, in accordance with its by-laws, impose sanctions such as: (i) the imposition of a fine of at least CHF[Swiss Francs] 250,000 if the withdrawal is more than 30 days before the scheduled start or at least CHF 500,000 if the withdrawal is less than 30 days (Article 6.2 of the Regulations FIFA World Cup26); (ii) In accordance with FIFA rules, member associations must participate in all official competitions for which they qualify, subject to a ban from participating in future competitions.
File photo of Iranian football team. (Getty Images)
Ironically, when banning the Russian football team from invading Ukraine in 2022, FIFA itself took the position that matches involving Russian teams would pose unacceptable safety and security risks, even if held at neutral venues, which CAS upheld. However, stakeholders have a different stance. In the first case, Russia (the aggressor) participates in the contests and is subsequently banned. In the current scenario, the USA (the attacker) is the host of the tournament, putting FIFA in a Catch-22 situation.Further, Article 6.5 of the World Cup Regulations allows member associations to withdraw due to force majeure. The interpretation of force majeure will depend on the circumstances prevailing at the time of evacuation. As the World Cup is being played in 3 countries, an option may be for FIFA to seek refuge under Article 6.9 of the FIFA World Cup Regulations, 26 which allows them to move one or more matches for any reason, including as a result of a force majeure, and to play all of Iran’s matches outside the United States and make Iran’s final plan to finalize it as an intermediate plan. New Jersey. The same approach was adopted by the ICC in the T20 World Cup, had Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals and final.
A woman displays a poster of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei during a campaign in support of the government at Iqbal-e-Islami, or Revolution of Islam, square in central Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahid Salemi)
Such a decision, if taken, may have its own political consequences. Any offensive decision taken now would call into question Iran’s participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, in which soccer is an Olympic sport.Sports, which have been used since ancient times as a tool to unite people, are increasingly affected by geopolitical events in today’s volatile global environment. As a result, international federations are not immune and often find themselves in the middle of conflicts. While the charters of all international federations call for neutrality, this principle has been questioned on several occasions. Consequently, now more than ever, there is a growing need to establish clear guidelines in the interest of justice.(Ahna Mehrotra is the Founder and Principal Advocate of AM Sports Law and Management Company)
