Not the first time : Which teams withdrew from FIFA before Iran national football team?

The Iran national football team has reportedly decided to step away from the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to geopolitical tensions.Sports officials stated that under the present circumstances it would be difficult for the national team to participate in the global football event. According to reports, Iran's sports minister expressed about the worries regarding safety of the players and staff if they travel for tournament. Despite the public announcement by Iranian authorities, the situation is still developing. The governing body of world football, FIFA, has not yet confirmed Iran’s official withdrawal from the tournament, and is looking into the crisis.

From Uruguay to India : Nations that stepped away from FIFA World Cup

India – 1950 FIFA World Cup

India had qualified for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil but withdrew before the tournament began. Reasons included financial constraints, travel costs, and administrative decisions by the football federation.

Uruguay - 1934 and 1938

Uruguay, the first World Cup winners(1930) refused to participate in the 1934 tournament in Italy because many European teams had boycotted the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. They also stayed out of the 1938 edition.

Argentina - 1938

Argentina boycotted the 1938 World Cup in France after FIFA chose another European host instead of a South American country. This decision created strong dissatisfaction within the Argentine football federation, leading the team to withdraw from the tournament. Their absence was significant, as Argentina was one of the strongest footballing nations of the time.

Austria - 1938

Austria qualified but withdrew after the country was annexed by Nazi Germany.As a result, the Austrian national team was dissolved and withdrawn from the World Cup. Several Austrian players were later forced to represent Germany, although some refused due to political and personal reasons.

Turkey – 1950

Turkey withdrew from the 1950 tournament mainly due to financial and travel difficulties. The Turkish federation decided to withdraw from the competition primarily due to financial difficulties and the high cost of travelling to Brazil. At the time, long-distance travel and logistics posed major challenges for several national teams, which ultimately led Turkey to backout before the tournament began.