World Cup in football 2026 will be specific in many ways. One of them is that it will United States (USA) to host Iran, with whom they have been at war since February 28.
Iran will play at the World Cup, but will be in a much more difficult position than he planned.
War context and disqualification
The process of marginalization of the Iranian team began immediately after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East and the airstrikes carried out by the USA and Israel on the territory of Iran.
Already in April, the envoy of Donald Trump's administration, Paolo Zampoli, sent an official request to FIFA that Iran be disqualified from the tournament, and that Italy take its place. The Italians, who were eliminated in the barrage for the third time in a row, this time by Bosnia and Herzegovina, found themselves in the position of a potential political replacement. The umbrella football organization rejected this proposal, and the Italian national team itself expressed that it will not be a substitute because it does not deserve to perform at the World Cup.
Tijuana instead of Arizona: 3.500 kilometers of hell
The originally planned camp in Arizona was canceled under pressure from visa obstructions and security assessments. The Iranian federation was forced to move the national team to the Mexican border city of Tijuana. There was also an idea to play all Iran's matches in Mexico to avoid contact with America, but FIFA and the organizers did not allow that change in the schedule.
The national team will train in Mexico, will travel by charter flights exclusively to America on match days, and immediately after the matches will be returned to Mexican territory. Logistics force them to travel over 3.500 kilometers from Tijuana for the group stage match in Seattle against Egypt.
In addition to the obvious greater physical load for the players who are waiting for the duels with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, the US administration also implemented a selective allocation of visas. While the football players received their permits only ten days before the tournament, key members of the professional staff and logistical support were permanently denied entry to the USA.
Internal Tensions: The Case of Sardar Azmun
The pressure doesn't just come from the outside. The authoritarian regime in Tehran used the preparatory period to demonstrate political control inside the locker room. Sardar Azmoun, one of Iran's best players who currently plays in Dubai for Shabab Al-Ahli, was crossed off the passenger list by the decision of the top government.
The reason for removing Azmun was publication on social networks from March of this year, where he was photographed with the ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In the context of the fact that the Emirates normalized relations with Israel, and that during the recent conflicts they were the target of Iranian drones, Tehran considered this move an act of political disloyalty. Because of the rigid ideological framework of their own country, the national team was left without an important player in the attack.
Tribunes under visa regime
Isolation of Iran is complete even in the stands. Iran's football federation has confirmed that FIFA has revoked their guaranteed quota of eight percent of tickets for the group stage. At the same time, obtaining visas for fans is almost impossible.
The pattern of administrative border closures is not unique to Iran. Under the guise of migration risk, Haitian fans were also banned from coming to the World Cup. The same problem is faced by fans from Senegal and the Ivory Coast, who have almost no chance of being at the World Cup, because their tourist visas are mostly suspended.
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