Football under threat! Middle East conflict casts doubt on World Cup 2026 and Finalissima
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The escalation of the military conflict between the US and Iran has started to directly impact the biggest football events of the year.
Details: According to AS, at the annual IFAB assembly in Cardiff, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström stated that the organization is closely monitoring developments around the world and hopes that teams and fans ultimately will not be affected. However, he acknowledged that it is far too early to make any official predictions.
The “Finalissima” between Argentina and Spain, scheduled for March 27 in Doha, is now under the greatest threat. In response to recent attacks, Iranian aviation launched retaliatory strikes, forcing Qatar to completely close its airspace.
The football federations of Spain and Argentina have already begun reviewing contract clauses related to force majeure and insurance payouts. Despite the enormous financial significance of the agreement with Doha, player and fan safety will be the decisive factor in determining whether the match goes ahead.
The crisis has also affected preparations for the World Cup, which is just four months away from kicking off in North America. Iran has already qualified for the tournament, and now both their participation and the overall logistics of the World Cup are under FIFA’s close scrutiny. The situation is further complicated by the fact that, previously, public attention was focused on unrest in Mexico, but now the Middle East conflict has pushed all other issues to the background, creating an extremely challenging scenario for global sport.
Reminder: Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has finalized his 18-man squad for the World Cup.
