For the Iranian soccer team, It all seemed to good to be true. Iran flew through World Cup qualification, then cemented a relatively undemanding group, and secured two matches in Los Angeles—a city with such a vibrant Iranian-American population that it’s often known as Tehrangeles.
Now, the nation is suddenly embroiled in a war with the co-hosts.
There’s now a question of whether Iran can and will want to participate in a World Cup on U.S. soil. The country is well within its rights to as a qualified team; no team has withdrawn since 1950, and that was not for political reasons.
But days after the U.S. struck Iran, Donald Trump said “I really don’t care” if Iran participates, driving a real possibility that the nation might not be welcomed. With a travel ban already in place, FIFA will likely now have to be ready with a back-up plan.
So what happens now? What does it mean for tournament logistics, for security, and for the Iranian-American community?
I talked to Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, and author of the recent book Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer.
00:28 Iran’s Dream Draw and LA Spotlight
01:27 Strikes Put Qualification at Risk
02:06 Who Can Block Iran
02:50 Meet the Gulf Football Expert
05:55 Why Football Matters in Iran
07:47 No Precedent for Host vs Participant
09:58 If Iran Withdraws Who Replaces Them
11:00 FIFA vs US Government Power
15:48 Access and Visa Ban Fallout
17:46 Security Threats and Funding Gaps
20:07 US vs Iran Matchup and Diaspora Divides
24:28 Gulf Region Events in the Crossfire
27:20 Vision 2030 and Saudi’s World Cup Plans
28:26 Final Thoughts
