On a memorable sporting night in Medina, Al-Ula Club continued to make history, cementing its dominance in Saudi futsal by winning the Saudi Futsal Federation Cup for the 2025-2026 season. This well-deserved victory, their second consecutive title, confirms that their previous success was not a fluke, but rather the result of meticulous technical and administrative work.

The Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Sports City gymnasium hosted the final match on Tuesday evening, which pitted the defending champions, Al-Ula, against Al-Wadi Club. Al-Ula entered the match with the determination of champions and a clear desire to maintain their lead, imposing their style of play from the opening minutes. They managed to finish the first half with a tactical 1-0 lead, showcasing excellent defensive and offensive discipline.

In the second half, Al-Ula Club translated their dominance into a goal fest, extending their lead with three more goals. They capitalized on the space and physicality of their opponents, resulting in a resounding 4-1 victory. Despite Al-Wadi Club's attempts to mount a comeback and score a consolation goal, Al-Ula's experience proved decisive, securing their place on the podium and lifting the coveted trophy.

The champion's journey... numbers that reflect his merit

Al-Ula's path to gold was far from easy; it came after a marathon journey that saw them eliminate major rivals, showcasing a formidable attacking force. The team began their title defense in the Round of 16 with a resounding 8-1 victory over Al-Fayd, sending a strong message to their opponents. In the quarterfinals, they continued their impressive performances, overcoming Al-Majd with a 5-1 win.

The real test came in the semi-final, where Al-Ula played an epic football match against Al-Qadisiyah Club, which ended with an exciting and difficult victory with a score of (5-4), in a breathtaking match that proved the strong character of the team and its ability to deal with pressures in critical times, before concluding the journey with a great victory in the final.

Consolidating Al-Ula's position on the sports map

This achievement further solidifies Al-Ula's position not only as a global tourist and historical destination, but also as a rising sporting force in Saudi Arabia. Retaining the title for two consecutive seasons reflects the stability of the club's sporting project and its success in building a professional system capable of competing and consistently winning titles. This contributes to raising the level of futsal in the Kingdom and intensifies local competition, which will ultimately benefit the national teams in the future.

Recent American press reports have revealed the official position of US President Donald Trump regarding the participation of the Iranian national team in the 2026 World Cup finals, a tournament that fans around the world are eagerly anticipating as it is the largest edition in the history of the World Cup.

According to USA Today, the US president is not showing any particular interest or concern about the Iranian national team being on US soil to participate in the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This stance comes at a time when international relations are experiencing sharp political tensions, which adds a special dimension to this sporting event.

Details of the Iran group and host stadiums

The Iranian national team is set to compete in the World Cup in a tough group, starting with a match against New Zealand, followed by a highly anticipated game against the star-studded Belgian team. Iran will conclude the group stage with an all-Arab clash against Egypt in the second half of June 2026. These matches are of particular logistical and fan significance, as Los Angeles – home to a large Iranian community – will host two of the team's matches, while the highly anticipated match against Egypt will take place in Seattle on June 26.

Geopolitical tensions and the possibility of withdrawal

Despite the sporting preparations, signs of a crisis are looming that could jeopardize the participation of the Iranian national team. Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, hinted in previous statements at the possibility of his country's team withdrawing. This threat comes against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and what reports have described as an "American-Israeli war" against Iran, particularly after Israel's announcement on February 28th of preemptive strikes. This situation presents FIFA with a significant challenge in separating politics from sports and ensuring the safety of the participating delegations.

FIFA regulations and the Asian alternative candidate

Should Tehran officially decide to withdraw its national team from the tournament, FIFA regulations are clear on this matter. The rules stipulate that a withdrawing team must be replaced by another team from the same continent, and based on the results of the Asian qualifiers, the UAE national team is the most likely candidate to fill the void left by Iran, given its third-place finish in Group A. If this scenario unfolds, the UAE would be placed directly into Group G, where it would face Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand, following the same match order and schedule.

FIFA's official position

For his part, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström confirmed that FIFA is closely monitoring the current situation. Grafström stressed that the federation's top priority is ensuring a safe World Cup, focusing on the organizational and security aspects for all 48 participating teams, regardless of the ongoing political conflicts.

Recent American press reports have revealed US President Donald Trump's stance on the Iranian national team's participation in the 2026 World Cup, at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions that could threaten Team Melli's presence at the global event. According to USA Today, the US president is not showing particular interest or concern regarding Iran's participation in the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

Group 7 details and match schedules

The tournament, in its new format featuring 48 teams for the first time in history, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The draw placed the Iranian national team in a tough group alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. Iran will begin its campaign against New Zealand, followed by a difficult match against Belgium, before concluding the group stage with a highly anticipated encounter against Egypt in the second half of June.

These matches are of particular logistical and public importance, as Los Angeles, which has one of the largest Iranian communities outside the country, is scheduled to host two matches for the Iranian national team, thus ensuring a noisy public presence, while Seattle will host the final match against Egypt on June 26.

Withdrawal scenarios and the Emirati alternative

On the administrative front, Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, stirred controversy with previous statements hinting at the possibility of his country's national team withdrawing. This comes amidst a tense regional situation, particularly after Israel's announcement on February 28 of what it described as "preemptive" strikes against Iran, casting doubt on the team's ability to travel and participate normally.

Should Tehran officially withdraw, FIFA regulations are clear on this matter; the vacant spot is to be filled by a team from the same continent. Expectations and regulations indicate that the UAE national team is the leading candidate to replace Iran, given their third-place finish in Group A of the Asian qualifiers. If this scenario unfolds, the UAE would immediately occupy the same position as Iran in the match schedule, facing Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand at the same times and venues already established.

FIFA's stance and historical background

For his part, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström confirmed that FIFA is closely monitoring the current situation following the recent military developments. Grafström emphasized that FIFA's top priority is ensuring a safe World Cup with the participation of all qualified teams, free from political conflicts.

It's worth noting that Iran's World Cup matches have always carried political dimensions, as seen in the famous 1998 match against the United States and the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Nevertheless, anticipation remains high to see whether politics will prevent fans from watching Iran's stars in the North American World Cup, or if things will proceed as planned.