\n
GENEVA (AP) \u2014 Iran’s place in the men’s World Cup three months later was in jeopardy Monday amid uproar. Intensifying Middle East conflict<\/span> The United States, which is co-hosting the soccer tournament, became the impetus.<\/p>\nIran is scheduled to play three group stage games in the United States from June 15 to 26, with two games to be played in Inglewood, California, and then in Seattle. Cities in Canada and Mexico will also host some of the 104 games.<\/p>\n
US and Israel have targeted Iran in joint strikes since Saturday, resulting in fatalities Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/span> and dozens more senior bureaucrats.<\/p>\nThis prompted a reaction from Iran, which directed missiles at US allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Set in 2034.<\/span><\/p>\n“What is certain is that after this attack we cannot expect to go into the World Cup with any hope.” Mehdi Taj, Iran’s top soccer player, said:<\/span>Vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.<\/p>\nIt is unclear whether the state-backed Iranian Football Federation may refuse to send a team to the 48-nation tournament, which begins June 11, or whether the U.S. government may effectively block the team from participating. <\/p>\n
FIFA, soccer’s governing body, has declined to comment since Saturday, when general secretary Matthias Grafstr\u00f6m said it would “monitor developments in all issues around the world”.<\/p>\n
Andrew Guiliani, the White House official overseeing World Cup preparations, seemed unconcerned at a briefing on Saturday. Social media posts.<\/span><\/p>\n“Tomorrow we will be dealing with a soccer match,” Guiliani wrote of Iran, adding, “Tonight we will celebrate their opportunity for freedom.”<\/p>\n
The problems are:<\/p>\n
Asian soccer power<\/h2>\n
Iran has one of Asia’s best national teams and has qualified for six of the past eight World Cups.<\/p>\n
it is FIFA World Ranking 20th<\/span> Out of 211 teams, they have not finished lower than 24th place since the last World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\nIran was placed as the second seeded team in the World Cup draw. Held in Washington DC on December 5th<\/span>minutes after the report was presented to US President Donald Trump. Recipient of the 1st FIFA Peace Prize.<\/span><\/p>\nTaj and other Iranian football officials denied a visa to enter the United States<\/span>especially in the expanded format where most of the third-place teams advance to the finals, the draw result was in Iran’s favor.<\/p>\nIran will play New Zealand, which is ranked lower, then Belgium, one of the weaker top seeds, and finally Egypt. <\/p>\n
Residents of Middle Eastern countries are subject to entry bans, but Iran is likely to be cheered on at the stadium by its U.S. diaspora. <\/p>\n
The Trump administration is promised exemption from travel ban<\/span> For athletes and coaches participating in major sporting events such as the World Cup.<\/p>\nPolitics surrounding Iran inside World Cup stadiums is nothing new. Protests over domestic issues<\/span> It was televised by Iranian fans during the last World Cup. <\/p>\nfifa rules<\/h2>\n
FIFA World Cup Regulations<\/span> The legal language is vague to say the least, but it envisions teams withdrawing or being excluded from the tournament.<\/p>\nIn that scenario, according to Article 6.7, “FIFA shall decide the matter in its sole discretion and take any measures it deems necessary”.<\/p>\n
“FIFA may decide to replace the participating member association in question with another association,” the regulations state.<\/p>\n
This legal framework appears to give FIFA president Gianni Infantino broad powers to make all decisions regarding Iran. <\/p>\n
Exactly 18 months ago Decision announced by Infantino<\/span> The addition of Lionel Messi’s team, Inter Miami, to the 2025 Club World Cup lineup appears to have no basis in the official tournament rules.<\/p>\nConsequences of withdrawal<\/h2>\n
If Iran withdraws from the World Cup, which is still subject to speculation, the country’s soccer federation will forfeit at least $10.5 million.<\/p>\n
FIFA will pay out $9 million in prize money to the 16 federations whose teams do not advance from the group stage, while all 48 teams that qualify will receive $1.5 million “to cover preparation costs.”<\/p>\n
The Iranian federation will also face a disciplinary fine from FIFA. If a player withdraws from the tournament three days before the tournament, they will be fined at least 250,000 Swiss francs (approximately $321,000), and if the decision is made within a month before kickoff, they will be fined at least 500,000 Swiss francs (approximately $642,000).<\/p>\n
Iran also risks being excluded by FIFA from qualifying for the next World Cup in 2030.<\/p>\n
next column<\/h2>\n
Iran made a good run in World Cup qualifying<\/span> They won one of the eight guaranteed spots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation in March last year.<\/p>\nIf Iran withdraws, its likely replacement from Asia is Iraq<\/span> or the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\nIraq and the UAE were effectively the ninth and 10th-placed teams in Asia through the various qualifying groups and reached the two-leg play-off last November.<\/p>\n
Iraq defeated the UAE 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico, where they will play Bolivia or Suriname on March 31 for a spot in the World Cup.<\/p>\n
One possible element of uncertainty is the wording of the World Cup tournament rules.<\/p>\n
FIFA wrote that it could decide to replace a withdrawing team with “another association”, but it did not specify that the replacement team must be from the same continental confederation.<\/p>\n
Examples of delayed replacement<\/h2>\n
Denmark famously won the 1992 European Championship after receiving a belated invitation from UEFA, the governing body of European football.<\/p>\n
Yugoslavia advanced through the qualifying group ahead of Denmark, but were excluded by UEFA less than two weeks before the tournament due to UN sanctions imposed during the escalating Balkan conflict.<\/p>\n
Although this is not the case in modern times, teams have refused to travel to the World Cup in the past.<\/p>\n
Only 13 teams instead of 16 competed in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, with India and Scotland missing out.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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