The national team of Iran may miss out on the World Cup.
According to a report by renowned sports news agency ESPN, citing a single source, the escalation of the current political situation is making it difficult for the Iranian national football team to attend next year's World Cup. Zamin.uz reported on this matter.
Even if such a situation arises and the Iranian team is excluded from the tournament, this will force FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to make a serious decision regarding the selection of an additional replacement team. The tournament is scheduled to be jointly held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the number and order of slots allocated to the Asian continent clearly defined.
Currently, according to experts, the Iraqi national team is considered the primary and most likely candidate to take Iran's place. The Iraqi players are set to play a decisive match against the winner of Bolivia and Suriname in the intercontinental playoff stage at the end of March next year.
If the Iraqi team wins this crucial match and secures a direct qualification spot, then in the event that Iran's place becomes vacant, the turn will go to the United Arab Emirates. Conversely, if the Iraqi team loses in the playoffs, then due to Iran's inability to participate, the Iraqi team will have the opportunity to claim the second Asian slot.
Since the United Arab Emirates team lost to Iraq in the final round of Asian qualifying, they are currently seen as the third contender. Although the situation is not yet fully determined, at this moment the main focus is on the Iraqi and United Arab Emirates teams.
Players from both countries are preparing to take advantage of the opportunity to step onto the world stage by testing their strength. This process represents a great responsibility and opportunity for these football teams.
Source: ESPN
