FIFA is preparing a contingency plan to fill a vacancy in the 2026 World Cup should Iran withdraw from the tournament. The football's governing body is considering an intercontinental playoff between two teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and two from UEFA to replace the Asian side.
The possibility of Iran's withdrawal stems from ongoing conflict between Tehran and the United States, one of the tournament's primary hosts. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has offered certain guarantees, the Iranian national team's participation remains unconfirmed.
RMC Sport, citing reports from The Athletic, described the proposed replacement mechanism as a "wild" plan. The strategy involves a sudden playoff tournament to determine which non-qualified nations can join the expanded field in North America.
A lifeline for Italy and Poland
Under this proposed format, high-ranking European teams that failed to qualify could earn a second chance. Italy, currently the highest-ranked UEFA nation not yet qualified for the 2026 tournament, stands to benefit most from such a move.
Poland is also mentioned as a potential participant in this emergency playoff. The Italian squad, which recently failed in the European playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina, would require an official withdrawal from Iran to remain in contention.
According to RMC Sport, the intercontinental playoff would specifically pair two AFC teams with two UEFA teams. This structure aims to maintain global representation despite the potential loss of a major Asian competitor.
FIFA officials have not yet officially ratified the plan. The implementation of this playoff depends entirely on an official announcement of Iran's withdrawal from the competition.