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Babak Shahbazi had initially hoped to see Iran play at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in North America this summer.
But following the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on protesters in January, and as conflict escalates between the United States and Iran, the Metro Vancouver soccer organizer says the tournament now feels far removed from people’s minds.
“To be honest, with the events in the past two months, soccer is not on anybody’s mind right now,” said Shahbazi, founder of Vancouver’s Shaheen Football Club.
With less than 100 days until kickoff, the World Cup is meant to be a celebration of unity. But a widening conflict in the Middle East is raising new questions about how the tournament will unfold.
The United States, a World Cup co-host, is involved in military strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the United States this summer, including games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The president of Iran’s football federation has now cast doubt on the national team taking part following the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told the Iranian news site Varzesh3.
Three other countries tied to the tournament are also caught up in the violence. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have both qualified for the World Cup, and Iraq could still qualify through a playoff later this month.
Less than 100 days before kickoff and the World Cup is facing a geopolitical crisis. The United States is bombing Iran, and Iran’s soccer team is still set to play matches on American soil. As CBC’s Laurence Watt reports, FIFA says they’re monitoring developments but some teams are now losing hope that the World Cup will be unimpacted.
‘Uncharted waters’
Sports and politics have collided at the World Cup before, most recently in 2022 when FIFA banned Russia from international competitions after its invasion of Ukraine.
According to Jules Boykoff, a professor of political science at Pacific University who studies the politics of sport, the world’s governing body of soccer may be facing a situation it has never encountered before.
“We’re in uncharted waters right now,” said Boykoff. This is absolutely unprecedented, and FIFA absolutely has its hands full.”
Of the options available, Boykoff says it is highly unlikely FIFA will punish the United States.
“I don’t imagine they’re going to do anything that resembles what they did with Russia, especially given the fact that one of the main aggressors is the host of the actual tournament.”
Boykoff also points to the relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“When Gianni Infantino shows up at the Board of Peace meeting wearing a MAGA style USA cap, giving the thumbs up to the crowd, looking important on the world stage, he’s essentially enabling Donald Trump with a massive sports washing escapade.”
What if?
Shahbazi says he has mixed emotions about Iran competing at the World Cup. While he loves the sport, he worries the current Iranian regime could use the tournament to legitimize its rule.
“If [competing] is going to become propaganda for them to say that this massacre never happened… I’m like hey, you know what? Hell, with my love for soccer.”
In January, Iran’s government cracked down violently on protests, killing more than 7,000 people according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Some groups say the death toll is much higher.
Still, some Iranians have found reason to celebrate. Large crowds gathered across Metro Vancouver on Feb. 28, following reports that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike.
“The celebration was crazy … I told everybody, this is like we won the World Cup,” Shahbazi said, recalling the gathering along Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
Officially, Iran is still expected to participate at the tournament this summer.
Vancouver is scheduled to host seven matches this summer. None currently involve either Iran or the United States, though provincial officials say B.C. would be open to hosting more games if needed.
