Iran become seventh team to qualify for World Cup 2026 – but may not be allowed to play in it
IRAN have become the latest team to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
However, the Asian nation may not even be allowed to play in it.
Two goals from Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi saw Iran draw 2-2 against Uzbekistan on Monday.
The result sealed Iran’s place at the 2026 World Cup, their fourth finals in a row and their seventh in total.
But questions surround Iran’s appearance at next year’s tournament.
The competition takes place in Mexico, Canada and the USA.
The three host countries are automatically through to the group stage.
While Japan, New Zealand and Argentina have also booked their spots.
Yet Iran may be blocked from playing due to a potential travel ban issued by the USA.
Donald Trump’s government has proposed a list of 41 countries that could fall under the umbrella.
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It would mean citizens of those nations would have extreme trouble entering the USA.
And Iran is high on that list along with the likes of North Korea, Yemen and Syria.
There are other countries that could end up qualifying for the World Cup who also feature on the list.
Cameroon, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, DR Congo and Venezuela are all still in with a shout of reaching the finals.
A travel ban is yet to be confirmed by the current administration.
But during his first term, President Trump barred the arrival of people from several countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
While on January 20, President Trump signed an executive order designed to “protect the USA and its citizens” from “aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”