The 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in North and Central America has been caught up in an unexpected variable just over three months before the opening.
Political instability surrounding the co-hosts and international political issues involving teams that qualified for the finals have combined to raise concerns about the overall operation of the tournament.
The U.K. tabloid The Sun reported on the 1st (Korean time) that FIFA faces a serious dilemma over whether it can hold the tournament as scheduled. The tournament opens on June 11. With roughly 100 days remaining, analysts say uncertainty about the hosting environment is growing.
The biggest issue is whether Iran will participate. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated recently after the United States and Israel carried out military operations against Iran. There is talk that the fallout could spread into the realm of sports. If Iran is unable to take the field at the finals, analysts say it could become an unprecedented case in World Cup history.
According to reports, there has never been a case in which a country that had already qualified for the finals was excluded just before the tournament. However, if the situation drags on, FIFA could be forced into a difficult choice. Possibilities raised include the Iran Football Federation voluntarily declaring nonparticipation or replacement procedures being activated if international circumstances make participation impossible.
Alternative scenarios were also mentioned. If Iran cannot compete, the spot could transfer to Iraq in line with the intercontinental playoff schedule. If Iraq's qualification for the finals is confirmed before the playoff, there is speculation that the United Arab Emirates could take Iraq's place in the playoff. Many variables remain.
Security in Mexico, one of the host countries, has also emerged as a concern. Recent violent incidents linked to criminal organizations in some host cities have unsettled the local atmosphere. Guadalajara is the city where Korea is scheduled to play two group-stage matches. Korea will play its first and second group-stage matches at Akron Stadium there.
Local reports said tensions rose around Guadalajara as armed groups reportedly occupied roads. The Canadian government has urged its citizens to exercise extra caution when visiting Mexico, according to reports. The advisories are said to include warnings about crime and the risk of kidnapping.
For the first time in its history, the tournament will be expanded to 48 teams. It is a mega-event hosted jointly by three North American countries. The football world wants the World Cup to be defined by what happens on the pitch. Over the remaining roughly 100 days, how many of these variables will be resolved and FIFA's crisis management skills are being put to the test.
[OSEN]