World Cup 2026: Legal consequences for withdrawing or not competing
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is the focus of a lot of legal as well as sporting attention. Political conflicts, travel restrictions, international sanctions, health risks and issues of sports law can threaten the chances for qualifying national teams to participate. But what legal consequences does a team face if it withdraws or is barred from the competition or if it is not permitted to enter the host country? This article highlights FIFA's regulations surrounding the 2026 World Cup, potential sanctions, compensation claims and the role of force majeure in international sporting events.
USA and Iran from the perspective of sports law
Even though President Trump has announced that a peace agreement between the USA and Iran has been reached, it has not been signed yet: The escalation in the Middle East raises many questions, including how to deal with two countries participating in a sports tournament that are in a state of war with each other, particularly when one of the countries is hosting, making entering that country an unavoidable requirement for the other country to participate in the World Cup.
On Monday, 15 June 2026, at 6 pm local time, the Islamic Republic of Iran meets New Zealand on the pitch in Los Angeles Stadium in the USA. Iran's next match is set for 21 June 2026 against Belgium, again at the stadium in Los Angeles. The team is then scheduled to play Egypt on 26 June 2026 in Seattle. It is even technically possible that the USA and Iran will meet in a face-off on 3 July 2026.
This means that all of Iran's first three matches are scheduled to take place in the US, while Iran has moved its World Cup base camp to Mexico and even tried unsuccessfully before the World Cup to have its fixtures moved to Mexico. After much back and forth, it is now clear that Iran will compete at the World Cup – its team has already arrived in North America. Nevertheless, the prospect of Iran withdrawing from participating in the World Cup was discussed for a long time before the tournament.
Withdrawing from the World Cup: What are the legal consequences for national teams?
There can be wide-ranging financial and sporting consequences if a country withdraws from the World Cup. One answer to the question of what the legal consequences are for a country that withdraws from the World Cup can be found in the "Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 26, 11 June – 19 July 2026" by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) as of May 2026. These are binding on all parties involved in preparing for, organising and hosting the 2026 World Cup. Article 6 of the regulations governs what should happen if matches are abandoned or not played.
According to this, all participating associations are generally required to play their matches until they are eliminated from the 2026 World Cup (Article 6.1). If an association withdraws from the World Cup, the legal consequences are determined by the timing:
- If the association withdraws from the 2026 World Cup at the latest 30 days before the first match of the final competition, a fine of at least CHF 250,000 issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will be due (Article 6.2, first paragraph, first sentence).
- If the withdrawal is at shorter notice, meaning less than 30 days before the first match of the final competition, the fine will be at least CHF 500,000 (Article 6.2, first paragraph, second sentence).
- If the participating association is excluded or withdraws from the World Cup once it has started, further disciplinary measures may be imposed (Article 6.2, second paragraph, first sentence).
The regulations give FIFA a degree of discretion. Disciplinary measures can include banning the member association from subsequent FIFA competitions and/or replacing the participating member association with another member association. There was some debate for example as to whether Italy, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, could be promoted in the event that Iran did not participate.
In addition, the regulations for the 2026 World Cup provide for compensation payments. Article 6.4 states that any participating member association that withdraws from the World Cup or whose behaviour is liable for a match not being played or being abandoned may be ordered by the FIFA Council to compensate FIFA, the local FIFA subsidiary or any other participating member association for any expenses or losses incurred as a result of its behaviour. The association will also forfeit any claims to remuneration from FIFA.
Force majeure in sports law: When FIFA sanctions can be dropped
Article 6.3 of the regulations generally states that any match during the 2026 World Cup which is not played or which is abandoned may lead to the imposition of disciplinary measures. There is however an exception to this in cases of force majeure, though these must be recognised by FIFA. It seems doubtful that the escalation between the USA and Iran falls into this category. Wars and military conflicts have repeatedly had an impact on major sporting events. We provide an overview of this in our article: Between neutrality and sanctions: Political conflicts in sport.
The Ebola outbreak also raises legal questions for the 2026 World Cup
As well as political conflicts, outbreaks of disease also pose challenges for major sporting events, the participating teams and the host nations – challenges that are all too familiar from the COVID-19 pandemic. In relation to the 2026 World Cup, it is the current Ebola outbreak that is causing particular concern among participating countries from central Africa regarding their visas and entry into the US. This was the grounds given for why the team from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is supposed to isolate for 21 days. However, the main reason for this is not the FIFA regulations mentioned above, but US entry requirements.
For fixtures impacted by health risks, FIFA can take further health and safety measures, such as holding the matches as "ghost games", meaning without spectators, or even cancelling individual matches. One pre-World Cup friendly has already been cancelled. The outbreak of a disease or an epidemic is generally likely to be acknowledged as a case of force majeure within the meaning of Article 6.3 of the FIFA regulations if there is a serious risk to spectators or players.
It's not always about taking part: Is competing in the World Cup a legal obligation?
Participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not only a sporting commitment for the qualified associations, but a legal obligation. FIFA regulations require all participating nations to play their matches until they are eliminated. Every country and association is free to decide for itself whether the Olympic creed "The most important thing is to take part" also applies to the World Cup. From a legal perspective, taking part in a competition for which a country has qualified at least avoids the risks of compensation claims and sanctions. How ever much taking part in the World Cup may be a legal obligation and a sporting aspiration, there are situations in which a country has more important things to do than play football. The law also recognises as much.
Conclusion: 2026 World Cup between compulsory participation and force majeure
- Participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a general legal obligation for qualified associations.
- FIFA's regulations provide for substantial fines and other sanctions if a team cancels or withdraws from the competition.
- In addition, associations may be subject to compensation claims if matches are not played.
- Political conflicts, wars, travel bans and health crises can give rise to complex issues under sports law.
- Under certain circumstances, cases of force majeure may preclude sanctions from being imposed.
- The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico highlights just how closely sports law, international politics and global crises are intertwined.
- It is becoming increasingly important for associations and event organisers to assess the legal risks of international tournaments.
