Iraq and UAE could take Iran’s World Cup finals spot due to Middle East crisis

Fifa regulations vague on issue of replacing any teams Withdrawal would be first since France and India in 1950 Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup. Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, said on Saturday that “our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating”, but the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has raised doubts over his country’s participation by saying: ...

By Matt Hughes