FIFA responds to 2026 World Cup postponement claims amid escalating US-Iran war | OneFootball

The United States are one of three hosts of the 2026 World Cup

Coventry City’s Haji Wright and Watford’s Nestory Irankunda could be two of the biggest Championship stars at the World Cup this summer, along with Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree.

A number of second division stars are likely to feature at the showcase event, which will be held in North America this summer.

Wright could feature for the hosts the United States, while Mexico and Canada will also be staging games across the tournament.

Irankunda and McGree are likely to make it into Australia’s squad, while the likes of Tyler Bindon, Seung-ho Paik, Tahith Chong and Sontje Hansen are also set to represent teams such as Sheffield United and Stoke City, provided they remain fit between now and then.

Some players like Ipswich Town’s Dara O’Shea could yet also qualify, with the final sides to make it into the group stages to be decided later this month.

However, the United States’ attacks on Iran and the ensuing situation in the Middle East could complicate matters between now and the tournament getting underway.

FIFA’s chief operating officer Heimo Schrigi has made it clear that the plan is for the World Cup to go ahead as planned amid fears that teams who have qualified may not enter the competition.

There have also been suggestions that the tournament could be postponed out of the summer due to the conflict in the Middle East led by the United States and Israel.

The COO has confirmed that FIFA are pushing ahead with the competition as normal despite current events.

He believes that the scope of the World Cup is too grand, and that there will be no room for any possible delays in the staging of this summer’s edition.

"At some stage, we will have a resolution, and the World Cup will go on, obviously,” said Schrigi, via Give Me Sport.

“The World Cup is too big, and we ‌hope that everyone can ⁠participate that has qualified."

This conflict in the Middle East broke out when the United States and Israel both launched multiple joint airstrikes on Iran on 28 February.

It remains to be seen when the conflict will come to an end, and the ongoing crisis is jeopardising Iran’s participation in the World Cup.

Germany have also threatened boycotting the tournament, but no decision has yet been made regarding their participation with three months until the first game.

FIFA are not equipped to handle the Middle East crisis’ impact on the World Cup

FIFA as an organisation have become quite embedded with the United States in the lead-up to their hosting of the World Cup, with president Gianni Infantino in particular spending a lot of time with Donald Trump in the White House.

This has left FIFA ill-equipped to handle this political situation, and it’s not surprising that they are abdicating their responsibilities by effectively ignoring the problem.

The conflict in the Middle East remains up in the air, and there is no telling whether it will be resolved by the time the World Cup gets underway.

But FIFA could be using their position to apply pressure on the US to agree to a ceasefire, but they are making no such moves at this time.

The situation could yet have a big impact on some of the top Championship players, particularly if some of the European nations like Germany follow through in their threats to boycott the competition.