Iran's withdrawal from the World Cup gives Iraq a spot.
Renowned football expert and official Alisher Nikimbayev commented on reports that the Iranian national team might withdraw from next year's World Cup. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
He emphasized that currently there are many opinions and speculations around this issue, but the most important thing is that no official decision has yet been made by the Iranian Football Federation to withdraw from the competition. Therefore, the statements made by the sports minister remain the only existing evidence, as there is no documented official record.
Hypothetically, if the Iranian national team indeed does not participate in the final tournament, the Iraqi team can be named as the primary candidate for the vacant spot. The reason is that the Iraqi national team reached the intercontinental playoff stage during the qualifiers, and the order of priority works in favor of this team.
According to the expert's firm opinion, rumors about this vacant spot going to another continent are unfounded. The quota must be resolved within the Asian Football Confederation in any case.
If the Iraqi national team is granted the spot, the sequence of playoff matches will continue as scheduled. If Iraq qualifies for the tournament, the United Arab Emirates national team will take part in the intercontinental playoffs instead.
This is not just a contractual matter but is related to the fact that the UAE lost to Iraq in the Asian qualifying stage. Accordingly, the order principle works in this way, and other options remain only at the level of possibility for now.
In conclusion, the best course of action at present is not to get carried away by rumors and to wait only for the official decision. However, if events turn towards Iran's withdrawal, the most realistic scenario will be this: Iraq as the first candidate and the quota remaining in Asia.
You can read the full information on this issue on the One.uz website.
