The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is currently exploring several contingency plans should the Iranian national team decide to withdraw from the 2026 World Cup.
According to reports from The Athletic, the organization is considering the possibility of organizing an intercontinental playoff tournament. This supplementary event would feature two teams from Asia and two from Europe.
It is specifically noted that due to its strong FIFA ranking, Italy is highly likely to secure one of the European spots in this potential tournament.
On February 28th, military operations commenced between the United States and Israel against Iran. In reaction, Iran launched strikes on US military installations located in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Following these escalations, officials within Iran declared the possibility of boycotting the competition if matches designated for the US could not be relocated to Mexico.
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