By Kunle Solaja

The escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States have cast a shadow over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico will co-host.

Iranian officials have indicated that participation could become impossible under the current circumstances, although FIFA has yet to confirm any withdrawal. The situation has been further complicated by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that it might not be appropriate for Iran to participate in the tournament for security reasons.

Should Iran eventually withdraw, it would create an unprecedented situation in the modern era of the World Cup. According to the tournament regulations, FIFA would have full discretion to determine how to fill the vacant slot, leaving a range of possibilities for replacement teams.

One country quietly watching developments is Nigeria, which failed to qualify through the normal route but could theoretically benefit from any extraordinary decision by FIFA.

A precedent from Olympic history

Although there is no modern precedent for a World Cup withdrawal after qualification, a somewhat similar situation occurred at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

The United States led a boycott of the Games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, prompting several nations to withdraw from the football tournament. Ghana, which had qualified, withdrew from the event.

Nigeria, despite not even making the entry list, let alone qualifying for the football competition, was subsequently offered a wildcard entry. The decision was influenced by the fact that Nigeria had not joined the boycott and was the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champion at the time.

That historical episode illustrates how extraordinary geopolitical circumstances can create unexpected opportunities in international sport.

FIFA’s discretionary power

Under Article 6 of the World Cup regulations, FIFA retains full authority to decide how to handle the withdrawal of a qualified team.

This means the governing body could invite any national team it deems appropriate, without being bound by confederation quotas or qualification pathways.

One possible option would be to invite the highest-ranked team that failed to qualify. Such an approach would maintain sporting integrity while avoiding the complicated process of reopening regional qualification tournaments.

Nigeria, traditionally one of Africa’s strongest teams in the FIFA rankings, could benefit if FIFA prioritises global ranking and recent competitive strength. However, the Super Eagles could face competition from higher-ranked non-qualified teams from Europe, South America or Asia.

A group-stage complication

Another potential obstacle lies in the composition of Iran’s group. Iran have already been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.

Because Egypt has qualified from Africa, replacing Iran with another African team, such as Nigeria, would require adjustments to the group structure, since FIFA rules prevent two teams from the same confederation from being drawn into the same group — except in Europe.

Such logistical complications could influence FIFA’s decision-making.

Expanding the intercontinental playoff

Another option for FIFA would be to adjust the intercontinental playoff system, either by promoting the best team eliminated in the playoff pathway or by expanding the bracket to accommodate an additional team.

In such a scenario, Nigeria could potentially be invited into the expanded playoff field, possibly alongside teams such as DR Congo, which are already in the intercontinental qualification route.

However, this approach would likely encounter strong lobbying from the Asian Football Confederation, which would seek to retain the slot vacated by Iran within Asia.

Lessons from the 1958 World Cup

History shows that FIFA has previously exercised considerable flexibility in extraordinary situations.

During qualification for the 1958 World Cup, Africa and Asia shared a single qualifying slot. Egypt emerged as Africa’s representative but refused to play Israel, which had qualified from Asia after other teams withdrew for political reasons.

Unwilling to allow Israel into the tournament without playing a match, FIFA arranged a playoff between Israel and Wales, who had finished second in their European qualifying group.

Wales won the playoff and advanced to the World Cup — a decision that remains one of the most unusual qualification arrangements in the tournament’s history.

Nigeria’s potential case

If Iran withdraws, FIFA could once again adopt a pragmatic approach by selecting a replacement team based on competitive strength, commercial value and global appeal.

Nigeria could present a compelling case on several fronts.

The Super Eagles remain one of Africa’s most recognisable football brands, with a vast global fan base and strong commercial appeal. The country is Africa’s most populous nation, and Nigerian players feature prominently across Europe’s major leagues.

These factors — combined with FIFA’s discretionary powers — mean that while Nigeria’s chances may be uncertain, they cannot be entirely dismissed.

For now, however, the situation remains speculative. Iran have not formally withdrawn from the tournament, and FIFA has made no indication that a replacement process is under consideration.

But in international football, as history has shown, extraordinary circumstances can sometimes open doors where none previously existed.

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Rights groups have urged FIFA to ensure the 2026 World Cup upholds commitments to inclusivity and safety, warning that U.S. immigration ​policies and concerns over press freedom could undermine the ‌tournament.

The Sport & Rights Alliance said the governing body had promised a “safe, welcoming and inclusive” competition under its Human Rights Framework, but that rhetoric and immigration policies ​under U.S. President Donald Trump risked creating fear among fans, journalists ​and communities.

“Football brings the world together — but not if ⁠U.S. visa bans and mass deportation raids keep immigrants, workers, journalists, ​communities, and fans away,” the coalition of rights groups wrote in ​a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino released on Thursday.

The 2026 World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, will be held across the United States, ​Canada and Mexico, with matches staged in 16 host cities.

Asked ​about the concerns, the White House said the administration was focused on delivering a ‌successful ⁠event.

“President Trump is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said when asked for comment.

The coalition ​also urged FIFA ​to work ⁠with host governments to guarantee access for fans and media and to ensure the tournament respects rights ​, including free expression, press freedom and protections for workers ​and ⁠local communities.

“With weeks until kick-off, most of the 16 World Cup host committees still have not released the Human Rights Action Plans they are ⁠supposed ​to produce,” it said. “It is impossible to ​manage human rights risks without identifying them and putting in place systems to manage ​them.”

-Reuters

 

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By Kunle Solaja

The Democratic Republic of Congo has named several players at the centre of Nigeria’s eligibility protest in its squad for the decisive inter-continental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining the lingering controversy surrounding the Leopards’ qualification campaign.

DR Congo will face the winner of the play-off between Jamaica and New Caledonia in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 31, 2026, in a match that could send the Central African nation back to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

But the squad announced by coach Sébastien Desabre has drawn attention because many of the players whose eligibility Nigeria questioned after last November’s African play-off defeat have again been included.

Players at the centre of Nigeria’s protest

Nigeria’s protest to FIFA following the African play-off in Morocco focused most strongly on three players whose nationality switches were approved only days before the decisive match: Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Mario Stroeykens and Matheu Epolo

Balikwisha and Stroeykens, both Belgian-born and former Belgium youth internationals, were granted FIFA approval to switch allegiance to DR Congo in the days leading up to the November 16 play-off against Nigeria.

Epolo, a Belgian-born goalkeeper who also represented Belgium at the youth level, had his nationality switch approved within the same period.

Nigeria argued that the Congolese federation had called up the players before FIFA had formally approved their change of association, raising questions about whether proper procedures had been followed.

Of the three players at the centre of the protest, Epolo has been included in the squad for the Guadalajara play-off, while Balikwisha and Stroeykens have not been listed among the selected players.

Several other contested players retained

Beyond the three players highlighted in Nigeria’s complaint, several other footballers whose eligibility was questioned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have also been retained in the squad.

These include: Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Nathanaël Mbuku, and Cédric Bakambu

Most of those players were involved in the controversial African play-off match against Nigeria last November, with Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe and Masuaku forming part of the starting defence.

Midfielders Sadiki, Moutoussamy and Mukau also started the match, while Mbuku and Bakambu featured in the attacking line.

Substitute appearances were made by Edo Kayembe, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Fiston Mayele, with Balikwisha scoring one of the penalties in the shoot-out that ultimately eliminated Nigeria.

Legal basis of Nigeria’s complaint

Nigeria’s petition to FIFA was based on two principal arguments.

The first concerned the timing of FIFA approval for nationality switches.

According to the NFF, the Congolese federation called up several dual-nationality players around November 1, 2025, but FIFA only approved their change of association between November 11 and 12, just days before the match on November 16.

Nigeria argued that this raised questions about how the players could have been selected before their eligibility was officially confirmed.

The second argument related to DR Congo’s constitutional position on dual nationality.

The NFF contended that because the Congolese constitution does not formally recognise dual citizenship, players who still held European passports might not have been eligible to represent the country unless they had renounced their other nationalities.

Historic opportunity in Guadalajara

Despite the controversy, DR Congo now stands within touching distance of its first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire.

Desabre’s squad blends experienced European-based players with emerging talent as the Leopards attempt to secure a historic return to the global stage.

In defence, Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku are expected to provide width, while Chancel Mbemba and Tuanzebe offer experience and physical presence at the heart of the backline.

Midfielders Sadiki and Moutoussamy will be tasked with controlling the tempo, supported by attacking outlets such as Grady Diangana and Edo Kayembe.

Up front, DR Congo will rely on the firepower of Bakambu, Fiston Mayele, Simon Banza and Yoane Wissa.

If the Leopards prevail in Guadalajara, they will become the tenth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, joining Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

Yet as they prepare for the decisive match, the presence of several players named in Nigeria’s protest ensures that the controversy surrounding last November’s play-off remains part of the broader narrative of DR Congo’s quest for a place at football’s biggest tournament.

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