Iran World Cup Vacancies "Italy Days?" There's no guarantee that it's a 亞 team... Hints on FIFA's 'Strange Regulations'

*This content was translated by AI.

Analysts said there is no guarantee that the Asian country will fill the vacancy if Iran does not attend the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.

The Associated Press pointed out on the 3rd (Korea Standard Time) that "the ambiguity of FIFA's rules for selecting an alternative team for the World Cup could be an unexpected variable for the soccer community."

If Iran is excluded from the current World Cup, Iraq and the UAE are mentioned as the next priority. This is because the two teams faced off in the Asian playoffs. Iraq, which beat the UAE at the time, is set to face an intercontinental playoff match against Bolivia or Suriname on March 31, with the winner of which going to the World Cup finals.

However, the AP aimed at the 'uncertainty' specified in the FIFA regulatory text. According to FIFA Articles of Incorporation and tournament regulations, teams that abstain or lose their qualifications can be replaced by 'other associations (nationals). However, there is no provision that "the replacement team must be a member of the same continental federation as the disqualified team."

In other words, FIFA may choose a team from other continents, such as Europe or South America, as an alternative team based on this regulation. In this case, it means that there is a possibility that an unexpected country, not Iraq and the UAE, which wanted to go to the World Cup finals as ninth and 10th in Asia, will get a ticket to the World Cup.

The AP said, "The key is what final interpretation FIFA will make of the controversy over the rules, which arose after Iran's confirmation of the finals," adding, "The principle of allocating quotas by continent itself could be shaken by FIFA's decision."

There are three candidates to fill the vacancy in Iran. The loser of the March 31 single-game match against Iraq (Bolivia or Suriname) may be the top priority. The cause is the most obvious as a way to rescue the team that failed at the last gateway to the finals.

Considering the success of the tournament, a team with a high FIFA ranking among eliminated teams in Europe or South America may be deployed regardless of the continental quota. For example, depending on the results of the World Cup European playoffs, some observers say Italy, ranked 13th, could be the main character of the "privilege" of winning a ticket to the finals. If Italy fails to advance to the European playoffs, FIFA will put Italy first for the tournament's success.

Lastly, it is the host continent, the North Korea-China-US neighboring country card. The top teams in the North and Central American qualifiers, which do not require travel distance and time difference, may be urgently considered.

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*This content was translated by AI.