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The world is facing a tense situation following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, as well as Tehran's response in several Middle Eastern countries where American bases are located. The escalation of the conflict comes at a delicate moment, with about 100 days left until the start of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The tournament, billed as the biggest global football event, risks taking place under the shadow of international uncertainty, while one of the qualified teams, Iran, could face obstacles to participation.
The president of the Iranian Football Federation has questioned the national team's participation in this year's World Cup. No official details have been given on the reasons, but the political situation and tensions with the United States are considered key factors.
Meanwhile, criticism of the escalation of the conflict, which according to some public statements has been instigated by the US administration and President Donald Trump, has increased. These remain political statements and are not accompanied by official statements from the tournament organizers about changes in format or participation.
FIFA, through its secretary general Mathias Grafström, has stated that it is monitoring the situation. However, with just over three months to go before the World Cup begins, it remains unclear whether the world's top football body can take concrete measures that would affect one of the host countries.
The situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate. According to reports, a refinery belonging to Aramco, one of the largest oil companies in the world and one of FIFA's official sponsors for the World Cup, was bombed on Monday.
In countries neighboring Iran, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain, several foreign footballers, coaches and employees have been stranded due to the security situation.
" We played a Cup match the day before and we had the day off. When we were near, the sirens started going off and the security staff told us we had to go back because the US embassy was attacked. We were scared, this has to end ," said Miguel Angel Baltanas, a member of the technical staff of Al Muharraq SC in Bahrain.
This evidence reflects the climate of uncertainty in the region, although there are no official announcements of large-scale disruption of sporting activities.
In addition to Iran, the participation of Haiti, which has returned to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, is also in question. According to the Trump administration's immigration policies, Haiti is included in the list of 14 countries with special restrictions, which could affect the entry of Haitian citizens into US territory.
It is not known whether there will be any exemptions for athletes and official delegations during the 38-day tournament. US authorities have not yet issued a public statement on the matter.
Another issue that has emerged in the run-up to the World Cup is the security situation in Mexico, one of the host countries. Violence reported following the killing of a prominent Jalisco cartel figure known as "El Mencho" has affected several cities, including Guadalajara, which will host matches in the tournament.
The city is also scheduled to host the final group game between Spain and Uruguay on June 26. So far, Mexican authorities have not announced any changes to the schedule or postponements of the matches.
The 2026 World Cup was expected to be a global celebration of football, but recent geopolitical developments have raised a number of questions about security, participation and organization.
FIFA has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation, while it remains to be seen whether international tensions will have a direct impact on the normal development of the world's largest football tournament.
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