In this file photo, players celebrate after qualifying for the World Cup.

KUWAIT CITY, March 1: FIFA has outlined its regulations governing the withdrawal of any national team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The clarification comes amid indications that the Iranian national football team could consider withdrawing from the tournament. Iranian FA President Mehdi Taj stated in media remarks: “Given the current events, it is unlikely that we are thinking about the World Cup, but the final decision rests with the sports authorities.”

According to FIFA’s statutes, should Iran officially withdraw, a replacement team from Asia would be selected to maintain the continent’s allocated quota and preserve the integrity of the tournament draw.

The frontrunner to take Iran’s place is the United Arab Emirates, which finished third in Group A during the Asian qualifiers. In that case, the tournament schedule would remain unchanged, with the replacement team stepping into Group G alongside Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand, competing according to the existing fixture list.

Reports have also highlighted other potential scenarios, including the possibility of Iraq being selected, particularly given its advancement to the final playoff stage representing Asia. Another option under discussion involves awarding the berth to the highest-ranked Asian team, a criterion that could likewise favor Iraq.