The phrase iran at the fifa world cup has suddenly become a question mark rather than a certainty, and in Italy it has reopened a wound that had barely begun to close. On Thursday in Italy, the possibility of an emergency route back to the tournament moved from rumor to a live topic inside FIFA’s planning.
Italy’s national team had already been left outside the tournament after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the European playoff final. Yet if Iran were to withdraw, a new and highly unusual scenario could emerge, one that would offer the Azzurri a remote but real chance to return to the global stage.
Why is Iran at the fifa world cup still being discussed?
The uncertainty comes from Iran’s position ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said Iran will take part in Group Seven with Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand, but doubts remain because of the war Iran is waging.
As things stand, Iran is scheduled to open its campaign on June 16 against New Zealand, then play Belgium in California, before meeting Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle. Yet the possibility of withdrawal has not disappeared, especially after FIFA refused to move Iran’s matches outside the United States. That has left the world governing body facing an awkward question just weeks before kickoff.
What emergency plan is FIFA considering?
FIFA appears to be preparing for a contingency. A report cited by RMC Sport and The Athletic says discussions are underway about an exceptional continental playoff if Iran withdraws. The idea would involve two teams from Asia and two from Europe, selected from among those who did not qualify for the tournament.
That is where Italy re-enters the picture. Because of its world ranking, Italy appears to be an almost certain candidate for one of the two European spots in such a playoff, should Iran’s withdrawal be confirmed. It would not be a simple replacement, but a special route built around an emergency scenario.
The same report also points to the United Arab Emirates as a possible candidate. That possibility exists because the UAE was eliminated by Iraq, and Iraq advanced through the intercontinental playoff to the finals.
What does this mean for Italy right now?
For Italy, the prospect is both distant and emotionally loaded. The team has now missed three consecutive World Cups, after also missing the 2018 and 2022 editions. The latest failure led to the departure of Gennaro Gattuso from the coaching staff and also brought down the president of the Italian federation.
That context matters because any opening, however unlikely, would immediately draw attention in Italy. The idea of returning through an emergency playoff is not a promise, but it is enough to keep hope alive among supporters who watched the last playoff collapse against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Italian Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi has played down the scenario. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said it seems “very difficult” that such a development would happen and added that he would not even hope for it. He described the issue as “a continental matter” and said he does not expect developments from other continents to reopen the door for Italy.
What happens next if iran at the fifa world cup becomes uncertain?
For now, everything depends on whether Iran stays in the competition. If withdrawal happens, FIFA would choose the replacement, and the exceptional playoff idea would likely become the next step in an attempt to keep the tournament schedule intact.
Until then, iran at the fifa world cup remains a tense and unresolved storyline, one that mixes sport with war, planning with uncertainty, and disappointment with the faint possibility of a second chance. In Italy, that possibility has already changed the mood around a team that thought its path was closed. For one more moment, the door is not fully shut.
