The Complicated Decision Facing the Iranian Men's National Soccer Team
- Fred
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A few weeks back, Iran's Minister of Sports said that there was "no way" Iran's National Soccer could play in America for the World Cup.
Then yesterday, American President Donald Trump said that the Iranians were more than "welcome" to play in the World Cup, but it would be "inappropriate" if they actually showed up.
Then, today, the Iranian team itself put out this statement:
"No one can exclude" us from participating.
If I was on the Iranian National Team, I would relish playing in a country that was bombing mine. The Iranians coming to America is the perfect way to thumb their noses at Donald Trump.
But things are even more complicated than that.
There are no mechanisms to replace Iran in the World Cup: Say Iran did pull out. The most likely scenario to replace them would be to allow the winner of the Bolivia/Suriname game a slot, then put in Iraq as Asia's replacement. That, too, is problematic seeing that Iran was bombing Iraq last week. Iran would be loathe to allow another enemy to replace them.
The dander of defections: Iran already has a schedule in hand. They will be heavy favorites against New Zealand in their first game, but heavy underdogs to Belgium, which means there's probably a 50/50 chance that Iran will be playing Egypt with the opportunity to get out of the group stage. On paper, Iran is slightly better, but Egypt has one of the best players in the world in Mo Salah. Is it possible that Iran makes it to the round of 8 and makes their country proud? Yes it is. Is it possible that Iran loses to Egypt, then half the team decides to defect to Canada after the game? That could happen too. Just because the Iranians hate Trump, doesn't mean the young men of Iran don't hate the mullahs more. Does the Iranian Government want the risk of being embarrassed on the world stage?
What if Trump stops bombing Iran? Donald Trump has already declared "victory" in Iran. What if Iran pulls out of the World Cup tomorrow, but then Trump just gets bored and stops bombing Iran? Again, technically, we aren't at war. Could FIFA mobster, er, President, Gianni Infantino give Iran a deadline of, say, May 1st to make a decision and then announce a successor? What if Iraq has already qualified by beating the winner of the Bolivia/Suriname game? Would that put the United Arab Emirates in the mix as a backup qualifier? Iran also bombed the UAE last week and they wouldn't want THAT team to replace them either.
And, probably the most problematic scenario of all, with the exceptions of Qatar and South Africa, every host team has advanced out of the group stage.
I am very confused by the new seedings of the brackets beyond the group stage in this year's World Cup, so I asked Google AI: Can Iran and the United States meet in the tournament beyond group play?
"Yes, if Iran competes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they could face the USA as early as the Round of 32 on July 3, 2026, in Dallas, provided both teams finish second in their respective groups."
The United States....
Playing Iran....
On the Eve of Independence Day....
In the Searing 94 Degree Heat....
Deep In the Heart of Red-State Texas.....
Wow, that's must-see TV, ain't it?
Could either team bear the yoke of losing THAT game?
One of the most tragic stories in soccer history is when Andres Escobar was killed after he was blamed for Columbia losing to the United States in 1994's World Cup:
Also hosted by the United States.