Iran’s government will only decide on the national team’s participation in the World Cup once they receive a response from FIFA over the relocation of their matches, the country’s ​Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali said.

Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) has been pushing to move ‌the team’s three World Cup group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing American military involvement alongside Israel in strikes that sparked an ongoing war in the region.

FFIRI said last month they were in discussions ​with FIFA about a venue switch, while Iran’s sports ministry has banned national and ​club sports teams from travelling to countries it considers hostile until further notice.

FIFA president ⁠Gianni Infantino said last week, however, that Iran would play their matches as scheduled.

“Our request ​to FIFA to relocate Iran’s games from the U.S. to Mexico is still valid, but we ​have not yet received a response,” Donyamali told Turkish state news agency Anadolu in an interview published at the weekend.

“If accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain. However, FIFA has not yet responded.

“As ​the Minister of Sports, together with the Iranian football federation, we will keep the football ​team ready for the World Cup. However, the final decision will be made by our government.”

Iran are scheduled ‌to ⁠play all of their Group G matches on American soil — against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before their final fixture against Egypt in Seattle.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that while Iran’s national team were welcome to play in the U.S., it might not be ​appropriate for their “life and ​safety”.

He later made it ⁠clear that any threat to players would not come from the United States.

“According to FIFA’s relevant regulations, security must be provided in the ​country concerned,” Donyamali added. “However, the World Cup is taking place soon, and ​providing guarantees ⁠during this period is questionable.

“Under these circumstances, the possibility of Iran participating in the World Cup matches in the U.S. is very low. But, if the relevant security guarantees are provided, our government ⁠will ​make the decision on Iran’s participation in the World ​Cup.”

FIFA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The World Cup takes place in the U.S., Mexico and ​Canada from June 11 to July 19.

–Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Canada Soccer cheekily courted Italy’s crestfallen supporters on Saturday, urging them to swap ​their Azzurri blue strips for maple ‌leaf red after the four-time champions suffered another World Cup failure.

“Dear Italian soccer fans, don’t wait ​four more years. Swap your jersey for ​Canada,” the sports governing body posted ⁠on X on Friday, directing fans to ​gather outside Cafe Diplomatico, a popular restaurant in ​Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood.

The light-hearted appeal followed Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup ​after a playoff defeat by Bosnia ​on Tuesday, a setback that led to the resignations ‌of ⁠coach Gennaro Gattuso and federation president Gabriele Gravina.

Canada, who will co-host the World Cup alongside Mexico and the United States, seized the moment ​to call ​for fans ⁠to support their country instead.

Local media reported hundreds of supporters queued ​for the Italy-for-Canada jersey exchange, though ​the ⁠offer proved more symbolic than transactional. Canada Soccer handed out 2026 shirts and posters ⁠to ​fans — and did so without ​collecting a single Italian jersey in return.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja.

Despite the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams, several high-profile nations—including some ranked within the top 30 globally—will not feature at the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, underlining the increasingly unforgiving nature of modern qualification.

The most striking absence is the four-time world champions Italy national football team, who failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs.
Once a permanent fixture at the global showpiece, Italy’s continued absence has triggered widespread criticism at home, with many describing the situation as a national sporting crisis.

Europe’s Big Casualties

Italy are not alone among Europe’s elite in missing out. Countries such as Denmark’s national football team, Poland’s national football team and Serbia’s national football team, all of whom have consistently hovered around the top tiers of FIFA rankings in recent years, also failed to make the cut.

Poland’s elimination is particularly significant, as it likely marks the end of World Cup ambitions for veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, while Denmark’s absence comes after years of steady progress on the international stage.

Serbia, boasting a generation of technically gifted players, were also among those eliminated during the qualification process.

African Heavyweights Left Out

Africa will send a record number of teams to the expanded tournament, yet notable absentees remain.
Three-time African champions Nigeria national football team and five-time AFCON winners Cameroon national football team both failed to qualify after disappointing campaigns.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions are among Africa’s big names missing at the World Cup.

Nigeria’s absence is particularly glaring given the quality of players such as Victor Osimhen, while Cameroon fell short despite a squad featuring several Europe-based stars.

South American Decline

In South America, the Chile national football team continue their dramatic fall from grace. Once Copa América champions, Chile finished bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifying table, extending their World Cup absence to three editions.

Emerging Pattern: Expansion Without Guarantees

The absence of these established football nations highlights a key reality: even with 48 slots, World Cup qualification remains fiercely competitive.

While debutants such as Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan have secured historic places at the finals, traditional powers have faltered under pressure.

Analysts note that this shift reflects a broader trend in global football—greater parity, improved development structures in smaller nations, and declining dominance of traditional heavyweights.

A World Cup Without Familiar Faces

The 2026 tournament will therefore present a unique landscape—one where emerging nations share the stage while several established powers watch from home.

For fans, it promises freshness and unpredictability. For the absent giants, however, it serves as a stark reminder that reputation alone is no longer enough to secure a place at football’s biggest event.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H