The Qatar World Cup 2022 kicks off on Sunday 20 November, with England facing Group B opponents Iran for their first fixture of the tournament the day afterwards on Monday.
However, groups are calling for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup, due to the government's treatment of female fans and, more generally, the behaviour towards Iranian women. High-profile protests are currently happening in the Asian country, with widespread disruption from citizens against laws stating women have to wear their hijabs at all times.
An official letter written by a Spanish law firm and backed by a number of Iranian football and sports personalities has been submitted to FIFA, urging the governing body to suspend the Iranian Football Associate, therefore expelling the nation from the 2022 World Cup as a result.
There are also allegations against Iran suggesting it has participated in the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the production of drones.
Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has also called on FIFA to take action against Iran, arguing Ukraine are deserved occupants of a World Cup place.
However, while it seems unlikely FIFA will take action against Iran so close to the tournament, if it does, then there seems a more logical route FIFA will take if England's Group B opponents Iran are kicked out of the World Cup.
Despite Palkin obviously calling for Ukraine to take Iran's place if they are removed, there is no precedent for this to happen. Instead, it is most likely their replacement would come from Asia.
After all, Iran qualified through Asia's governing body AFC, finishing first in Group A ahead of South Korea. The top two teams from each group earned automatic qualification to the World Cup finals, while the third-placed side went into the Asian play-off.
UAE finished third in Group A of the qualification process, losing to Australia in the play-offs. Regardless, the Gulf nation could take Iran's spot if FIFA decides to take action against them. Australia only beat UAE in the semi-finals of one play-off, though, facing Peru in the final to advance to the group stages of the World Cup.
As a result, Peru could also have a chance at being drafted into the tournament. While unlikely, as previously stated, there is no precedent for this, and FIFA has refused to comment on the situation.
Furthermore, there are already two European teams in Group B with Iran, in England and Wales. FIFA caps each World Cup group with two European teams during the draw process, meaning Ukraine's route to the tournament would be more difficult again.
Therefore, it seems most likely that UAE would take Iran's place in the World Cup, but Peru could also make the finals instead.
