Iran withdraws Fromโ 2026 โคWorld Cup Qualifying Draw
TEHRAN,โฃ November 28, โ2025 – Iran has announced its withdrawal fromโ the draw forโ the 2026โฃ FIFA World Cup Asianโ qualifying competition, citing ongoing disputesโค with โFIFA regarding โคrules and regulations. The decision,โข confirmed by the Iranian โFootball Federation โฃ(IFF) earlier today, throws theโ qualifyingโ process for the expanded 48-teamโ tournament into uncertainty.
The IFF’s move stems from โdisagreements over recently implemented โFIFA regulations, โwhich iranian officials have likened toโฃ unacceptable interference in national football governance. These rules, impacting club licensing and player eligibility, have been a source of friction for months, culminating in the IFF’s decision toโค abstainโค from the drawโ scheduled โขfor โNovember 30th in Kuala Lumpur. This withdrawal impacts the composition of qualifying groups andโ possibly delays the startโฃ of the Asian qualifying campaign.
the 2026 World Cup, co-hostedโ by the United States, Canada, and mexico, will featureโฃ an unprecedented 48 teams, increasing โขthe number of qualifying spots available to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations. Typically, the drawโฃ determines the pathways forโข teams to compete for theseโข coveted โberths. Iran, a consistent participant in world Cup qualifying and a five-time World Cupโ finalist, hasโ consistently been โamong Asia’s strongest contenders.
The IFF โhas stated it remains open to dialog with FIFAโค toโ resolve the outstanding issues, โคbut insists on โmaintaining itsโ autonomy in managing Iranian football. FIFA has yet to issue a formal โฃresponse to Iran’s withdrawal, but sources indicate discussionsโข are underway to mitigate the impact on the โqualifying schedule. โฃTheโ AFC is expected to convene an emergency meeting to address โthe situation and determine the next steps.
