Escalating tensions in the Middle East have plunged 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup in the United States (US) into uncharted territory.

Iran faces the unprecedented challenge of playing matches on US soil, despite coming under attack from the country’s military

Last year, Iran secured their spot at a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the Asian qualifying and in December’s draw, they were grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all three Group G matches scheduled for US venues, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

But against this volatile backdrop, Iran’s fixtures with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand mark the first time in tournament history that a team competes on the soil of a nation it is effectively at war with.

A Middle East researcher at the Rice University in Houston, Texas, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, says he doubts whether Iran can participate.

“Well, at the moment, it’s difficult to see how Iran can take part in the World Cup just because the situation in Iran is, so fluid and the country is under attack. We simply don’t know. All sporting events in Iran will have been cancelled, I think, at this point, until at least further notice. And of course, as I said, we haven’t seen a situation where a host is effectively at war with a participant.”

The geopolitical turmoil will also have an effect on other supporters trying to enter the US for the World Cup

–SABC–