FIFA identifies two national teams that could replace Iran in the 2026 World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup is drawing near, yet Group G has surprisingly become a focal point with the emergence of a possible alteration to Iran's involvement.

According to FIFA regulations, if a team that has qualified for the World Cup is unable to participate, the world football governing body has the authority to appoint a replacement, provided there is sufficient time to adjust the competition roster.

The general principle is that the tournament slot will be awarded to the best-performing remaining team from that region, typically the playoff runner-up or the highest-ranked team that has not yet advanced. This opens an opportunity for two Asian representatives: the UAE and Iraq.

UAE is a strong candidate from the Asian qualifiers

The UAE is considered the most logical first option. In the Asian regional qualifiers, the UAE finished directly behind Iran in their group and had participated in the regional playoff stage. Based on performance and ranking, they have a clear basis to be considered for the replacement slot if necessary.

Granting the opportunity to the UAE also ensures continuity in the regional allocation structure for World Cup slots and avoids major disruptions to the organizational plans.

Iraq is the second option from the intercontinental playoff slot

The second alternative is Iraq. This national team has earned the right to participate in the intercontinental playoff and still has a chance to compete for a World Cup spot through the official pathway.

In the event Iran cannot participate and FIFA requires a swift solution, Iraq could be promoted as the replacement, and their intercontinental playoff slot could then be reallocated to another suitable team in the region, most likely still the UAE.

Group G's structure could be altered

In the previous draw, Iran was placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. If a change occurs, the replacement team would take over Iran's entire match schedule and position.

In a worst-case scenario with insufficient time for adjustments, FIFA might even consider organizing the group with only three teams. However, this is viewed as a last resort as it directly impacts the competition structure and the tournament's competitiveness.