By Kunle Solaja.

With the inter-continental play-off for the World Cup entering the home stretch, Nigeria’s planned appeal against FIFA’s dismissal of its protest over the eligibility of certain Democratic Republic of Congo players is yet to materialise at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This raises fresh uncertainty on the eve of the final stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying process.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier announced its intention to challenge the ruling of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, which threw out Nigeria’s petition concerning alleged irregularities in the documentation of some DR Congo players who featured in the decisive African play-off clash in November 2025.

However, as of the last working day before the eve of the final qualifier on Tuesday, CAS has not listed or formally acknowledged receipt of any appeal from Nigeria, casting doubt over the timeline and urgency of the process.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, had assured Nigerians shortly after FIFA’s verdict that the federation would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” Sanusi stated at the time.

Nigeria’s protest stemmed from what it described as “perceived fraud” in the issuance of passports to certain DR Congo players, which allegedly made them ineligible for the high-stakes encounter.

The match in question, played at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, with DR Congo prevailing via a sudden-death penalty shootout to secure passage ahead of Nigeria.

The absence of any formal update from CAS now places the NFF in a delicate position, particularly given the time-sensitive nature of World Cup qualification disputes, which typically require expedited handling to avoid disrupting competition schedules.

In contrast, the Senegal Football Federation, which faced disciplinary issues around the same period, has already had its appeal process formally acknowledged by CAS, with the court confirming that the case would be fast-tracked.

The disparity has further intensified scrutiny on Nigeria’s handling of the appeal process, with stakeholders questioning whether procedural delays or administrative bottlenecks may undermine the country’s chances of securing a favourable hearing.

With the World Cup qualification race entering its decisive phase, the lack of clarity surrounding Nigeria’s appeal could have significant implications—not only for the Super Eagles’ prospects, but also for confidence in the federation’s ability to navigate complex legal and administrative challenges at the highest level of international football.

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

Iran’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have been thrown into uncertainty following a government directive banning national and club teams from travelling to countries deemed “hostile.”

According to Iranian media, the country’s Sports Ministry ordered that teams must avoid destinations where the safety of athletes cannot be guaranteed, citing growing geopolitical tensions as the basis for the decision.

“The presence of national and club teams in countries considered hostile… is prohibited until further notice,” the ministry stated.

Implications for World Cup Fixtures

The directive has immediate implications for Iran’s World Cup participation, particularly as the tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With relations between Iran and the United States strained amid ongoing conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel, concerns have emerged over whether Iran will be able—or willing—to play matches on American soil.

Iran’s football federation has already opened discussions with FIFA about the possibility of relocating their matches from the United States to Mexico.

If approved, such a move would represent a significant logistical adjustment for tournament organisers and could set a precedent for handling politically sensitive fixtures.

Security Concerns and Political Tensions

The situation has been further complicated by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that while Iran’s team would be allowed to participate, concerns about their safety could make hosting them in the U.S. “inappropriate.”

These developments highlight how geopolitical tensions are increasingly intersecting with global sporting events, raising questions about security arrangements and neutrality at the World Cup.

Potential Impact on Tournament Integrity

The travel ban could have broader consequences for the tournament:

• Venue Adjustments: Matches involving Iran may need to be shifted entirely to Mexico or Canada
• Scheduling Disruptions: Changes could affect group-stage logistics and travel plans
• Competitive Balance: Playing in limited venues may impact fairness compared to other teams
• Diplomatic Sensitivity: FIFA may face pressure to navigate political considerations carefully

Despite the uncertainty, Iran’s national team remains in camp in Turkey, preparing for upcoming friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica as part of their World Cup build-up.

However, the broader picture remains unclear. With the tournament fast approaching, Iran’s travel restrictions and the evolving geopolitical climate could significantly shape not only their campaign but also the organisation of the World Cup itself.

A Test Case for Global Football

Iran’s situation underscores a growing reality for international sport: major tournaments are no longer insulated from global politics.

How FIFA resolves the issue could have lasting implications—not just for Iran, but for how future World Cups handle conflicts involving participating nations.

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

Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami has called on his players to emulate Morocco’s shock run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago as they prepare for their ​first appearance at the global soccer showpiece in North America.

Jordan will face Austria, Algeria and ‌Argentina in Group J at the June 11 to July 19 World Cup and are holding their final training camp in Antalya this week.

Some players ​say they can barely sleep in anticipation of the tournament but Sellami wants them to ​draw confidence from Morocco’s achievement at the last World Cup, where they lost ⁠2-0 to France in the last four.

“In big competitions, many teams can surprise. My country Morocco ​reached the semi-finals in the last World Cup,” he said. “That gives us belief.”

Jordan will play Costa Rica ​later on Friday and Nigeria on Tuesday as part of a four-team regional tournament that also includes Iran and was relocated from Jordan to Turkey due to the war in the Middle East.

“Of course we feel sad about what is happening. I ​hope there will be peace,” midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh said at the camp.

“But this is football — we ​moved here and we need to adapt. In the World Cup you face the unknown, so we must be ‌ready for ⁠everything.”

Despite their underdog status, the players say they are not going to the World Cup just to make up the numbers.

“For us, we are not going just for participation,” Al-Rawabdeh added. “We are aiming to go as far as we can in the tournament.

“To be honest, sometimes we don’t sleep when we ​think about it,” he added. “It’s ​a dream come ⁠true for us.”

Jordan secured an automatic berth at the World Cup after finishing second behind South Korea in their Asian qualifying group.

Defender Mohammad Abu Alnadi said the ​squad were relishing the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.

“It’s truly amazing. ​All of ⁠us are excited. It’s one of the highest levels any player can play,” he said.

“We want to go as far as possible — like any other team — and make history again.”

Sellami said the Antalya camp was ⁠a key ​stage in building experience ahead of facing elite opposition.

“We are ​preparing step by step. We’ve played against different football cultures,” he said.

“We are collecting experience and, Inshallah (God Willing), we will surprise ​many people.”

-Reuters

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