FIFA is reportedly holding an additional play-off for the 2026 World Cup to replace Iran, which is rumored to have withdrawn from the biggest football tournament.
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir said he could not confirm the matter and did not want to speculate on the issue before FIFA issued an official document.
"I haven't received the black and white from FIFA yet, so I don't dare make any uncertain assumptions," Erick Thohir told reporters.
Previously, a number of European media outlets, such as ESPN, reported that there would be an additional play-off involving two teams from Europe and two teams from Asia.
The increasingly heated geopolitical situation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel is expected to result in the Iranian national team withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino in an interview has dismissed the issue of Iran's withdrawal and will guarantee their conditions during the hosting of the four-yearly tournament.
"Iran will definitely come. We hope the situation will be more peaceful by then, that would certainly help," Infantino told AFP.
Infantino emphasized that Mehdi Taremi and his teammates were entitled to participate after securing a qualifying ticket.
