Fox 5 KUSI News, an authoritative American media outlet, has published a report examining how the current situation in Iran could impact the upcoming World Cup.

On Saturday, a joint U.S.–Israeli coalition launched large-scale military strikes against Iran. The repercussions of this conflict have extended beyond the realm of international diplomacy, quietly spilling over into the world of football and casting a cloud of uncertainty over the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off in just a few months.

The military operation was ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump and targeted multiple locations across Iran, coming only months before the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Notably, Iran has already qualified for the tournament. As one of the AFC’s top teams, the Iranian national side finished first in Group A of the Asian World Cup qualifiers to secure its place in the finals. Israel, by contrast, failed to qualify for the tournament.

It is well known that diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran have persisted for decades, with the nuclear issue serving as one of the core points of contention — and a central justification cited by Trump in defense of Saturday’s military action.

On the football pitch, however, encounters between the United States and Iran have been rare. Since 1998, the two sides have met only three times in official and friendly matches, with each team recording one win, one draw, and one loss. Their most recent meeting came in the group stage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when Christian Pulisic scored in the 38th minute to secure a 1–0 victory for the United States, eliminating Iran from the tournament. The other two meetings were Iran’s 2–1 victory over the United States at the 1998 World Cup in France and a 1–1 draw in a friendly at the Rose Bowl in 2000.

In this year’s World Cup draw, the United States and Iran were placed in different groups, meaning they are unlikely to meet unless both advance to the knockout stages. Iran has been drawn into Group G, with two of its three group-stage matches scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Iran will face New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and then Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Interestingly, Iran has opted not to use California as its training base, with team officials ultimately deciding to establish their camp in Tucson, Arizona.

As one of the World Cup host nations, the United States has now carried out strikes against a participating country, Iran — a development that has drawn widespread attention regarding its potential impact on the tournament. According to ESPN, FIFA is closely monitoring the situation. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, speaking at the International Football Association Board’s annual meeting in Cardiff, Wales, stated that officials are keeping a close watch on developments but acknowledged that “it is too early to comment in detail on future plans.”

“We will continue to monitor all relevant global developments,” Grafström added. “The final draw for the World Cup has been successfully completed in Washington, with all participating teams involved. Our core objective is to deliver a safe World Cup and ensure that every team can participate. As always, we will continue to maintain close communication with the governments of the three host countries to guarantee everyone’s safety.”

Earlier this year, the White House expanded the scope of its travel ban to cover 39 countries, including Iran, which falls under the category of “full suspension.” This means Iranian citizens are barred from entering the United States, whether as immigrants or non-immigrants. However, the ban includes a specific exemption for “athletes, coaches, support staff, and their immediate family members traveling for the World Cup, the Olympic Games, or other major sporting events.”

In addition, FIFA has introduced a dedicated World Cup visa known as the “FIFA PASS” for overseas fans. Citizens of countries subject to Proclamation 10998 — which restricts the entry of certain foreign nationals — may still apply for this special visa. However, it is important to note that the FIFA PASS does not override the existing U.S. travel ban.