(FILES) Iran supporters cheer during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A football match between Iran and the North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025. The president of the Iranian Football Federation said late May 9, 2026, that if Iran dropped out of the World Cup, it would deprive the country of a "major diplomatic asset", speaking after the federation (FFIRI) said that Iran would take part in the men's football showpiece this summer despite the Middle East War, but demanded that joint hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada agree to its conditions. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)