FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

Well, the Asian confederation has a lot of members, who voted for Infantile. Dunno if it's smart to kick them in the nuts by swapping one of theirs with an UEFA team.
Kissing Trump's ass atm isnot going to please the Arab countries either, as his war is costing them hundreds of billions of oils stuck in the Persian Gulf and destroyed oil infra structure.

 

Do you really think teams would drop out, lose millions in participation money, a dream, as a way to protest a bad replacement team? Or only if that replacement team is Italy?

 

Their rules say up to their "discretion".

This is part of the problem.

 

Dang. They really gonna make Italy come then...

 

What I think will happen:

- Infantino wants Iran. He visited their team 2 weeks ago training in Turkiye and the players want to go (according to him).

- Iran (regime) will be non-committed, being difficult even. FIFA will NOT ban them but not getting a commitment from them will force FIFA's hand.

- Keep in mind if both Iran and USA finish in 2nd Place in their Groups, we will have them play each other on July 3. There is no way Iran are showing up for that one. I just don't see it happening. Even if I believe Iran have more than a chance to eliminate the US in R32.

FWIW

"Trump Envoy" ???

I don't really don't believe todaya article that many outlets are running with:

- Meloni and Trump have not been amicable since Easter when she defended Pope Leo against him.

- Italy have said No to having the US use their base to launch attacks on Iran.

- Italy have not been friendly towards Israel lately which is a no-no to the US.

Now we are going to believe that a Trump envoy gives a stuff about the italian football team? None of this makes sense. This is just engagement farming.

FIFA do need another team as a contingency plan, however. You cannot have 3 teams in that group.

 

Not it wouldn't. They qualified - they should be going or this is a dangerous precedent that would be set opening the door to future hosts holding the tournament hostage so nations they don't like gets arbitrarily replaced.

You hate Iran? Beat them on the pitch or have a deeper run instead of wishing to ruin the damn tournament for the rest of us

 

His presidency runs until 2027, iirc until march or april 2027.
So it's not a good time to go agaist Asian interests with 47 member votes.
And if the Iran war continues and actually fans don't get into the USA because there's no kerosene to fly and the scam of dynamic pricing turns against FIFA, because all of a sudden only Americans can go to the stadiums, it will impact the profit and thus the bribes....I mean the bonuses to be paid.

 

Infantino's presidency ends in April 2027? And that's when he cannot be re-elected anymore?

I'm really looking forward to the end of his mandate, even though we will likely get somebody equally as bad to replace him

 

Iran having the possibility to play the USA on the 3d of July, with the chance to ruin their 4th of July?

 

Iran may likely not give a shit who the replacement team is but if they had a choice it they would certainly prefer Italy. Remember Iran see many Gulf states as US puppets and even launched bombs at UAE. Conversely their social media team (who are very good at their craft) spoke fondly of Italy recently.

 

Uhm, I'm sure he can run again.

 

Sure. On their 250th birthday.

For countries like Iran "face" is everything. Could risk a Loss on the pitch and the satisfaction of standing them up for their aggression might prove too tempting.

There is absolutely no way they are playing this match. If they do they will have defied the regime and then seek asylum in the US.

 

Wow, if that turns into a cosplay of the Orange Squad against Portugal with a boatload of red and yellow cards.....

 

Just looked it up, he can indeed run again. Looks like we'll have Infantino until 2031. Gives him a chance to turn 2030 into another huge greed fest

 

That's not gonna happen.

 

Why?

 

Because the players on either side aren't going to start a fight with the other over something they personally cannot control. Quite the opposite. I believe the Iran team will be greatly recieved in each stadium they play in by neutrals. Any booing they recieve will be for football reasons not as a country.

 

Also the Russian referee from The Netherlands vs Portugal match in 2006 was interviewed and he put more blame to The Netherlands for what happened in that match.

 

Only if the replacement is not an AFC team.

 

No team is going to drop out if a a non-AFC team is taken a s replacement. Each team will pocket a minimum of 10.5M USD. No FA is passing this up. As well, there will be a penalty and possibly expulsion for 2030.

 

It won't happen because if Iran pulls out an AFC team (probably UAE) takes their place. If anything else happens (other than just having a 3 team group) there will be big problems for Infantino.

 

With Iraq's Win in the Intercontinental Playoff over Bolivia the minimum amount of teams the AFC are to send has been achieved has been fulfilled.

 

UEFA have already achieved their maximum allocation. Iraq won an IC playoff spot. Iran's spot is an AFC allocated spot.

 

UEFA never had a minimum or a maximum. This spot has potentially opened up but nowhere does it say AFC is owed it. I wish it did.

I've already commented that my suggestion would be for UAE versus Indonesia in a one game knockout as they were the next teams in the Fourth Round. Maybe Indonesia can qualify to their second ever tournament both times through another teams withdrawal.

Considering the amount of absurdities that have occurred in these Qualifiers, giving a spot to the highest ranked team in the official Rankings is pretty low, a Ranking I may add that FIFA puts high value on when it suits them.

- Sweden qualifying after gaining two draws in Qualifiers, but because they won their League C UNL Group was given an automatic spot to the Playoffs.

- Giving Bosnia the Home match in the Path Final, based on what?

- Allowing a playoff match in Bosnia , where there was no VAR in place. Highly dubious Bosnia goal scored on a potential handball.

- Bosnian ball boys allowed to steal Donnarumma's PK taker notes.

- Curacao stocking their team with Dutch-raised players.

- Israel allowed to partake in Qualifiers.

 

Swiss Italian. I would think it's the opposite. BECAUSE of this reason he would not want them to fill in.