FIFA World Cup: US war on Iran, Mexico violence, visa bans, Iraq qualifier
Al Jazeera
The FIFA World Cup 2026 was billed as one of the easiest to organise, but challenges still lie in wait.
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off in three months, but what was set to be one of the most straightforward editions to organise in the tournament’s history appears to be growing more complicated by the day.
The Israeli-United States war on Iran has created massive uncertainty across the globe, and FIFA’s showpiece event is already feeling the ramifications along with policy and political issues that were already rumbling in the Americas.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the five issues the competition – cohosted by the US, Mexico and Canada – must resolve before the first match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa.
Iran’s sports minister said on Wednesday that the country cannot participate in the FIFA World Cup after the US killed its supreme leader.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated on the first day of the US-Israel war, and all of its national football team’s World Cup group games are to be played in US cities.
Experts say Iran’s vast, mountainous terrain would make an invasion difficult but a small, precise mission is possible.
Is Brazzaville’s stability a result of gradual democratic consolidation or carefully organised political continuity?
Iran says ‘under no circumstances’ will it participate following the US-Israeli attacks that killed its supreme leader.
Iraq has seen attacks from both sides of the conflict: Iran and its proxies target US bases while US has bombed pro-Iran groups.
Intelligence experts have suggested China has made its satellite navigation system available to Iran.
Mexico issues visas to some Iraq footballers so they can play in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Monterrey.
Analyst refers to ‘security achievement gap’ of tactical assassinations that fail to bring Israel security.
The Metropolitan Police requested the ban citing public disorder risks, while the organisers decide to hold a static protest instead.
France’s president said a French aid worker with UNICEF was killed, after M23 rebels said ‘combat drone’ hit the city.
At least 85 countries have reported petrol price rises since the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28.