Iran's football chief has cast doubt over the national team's participation in this summer's World Cup following the US and Israeli attacks on the country.
Iran have been drawn in Group G of the tournament and are scheduled to play three matches in the United States.
According to multiple outlets, Iran football federation president Mehdi Taj told sports news portal Varzesh3: "What is certain is that after these attacks, it's hard to look at the World Cup with hope."
The World Cup takes place across the US, Canada and Mexico in June and July.
Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom told reporters on Saturday the situation was being followed closely.
He said: "It's too early to comment, but we will monitor developments around the world that could affect the tournament."
The act of withdrawing from the World Cup would come with a heavy financial blow, with Iran due $10.5million from FIFA for taking part.
They would also run the risk of being barred from qualifying for the 2030 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
FIFA's World Cup regulations state that the governing body would "decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary" should a team withdraw or be excluded from an international tournament.
Article 6.7 adds: "FIFA may decide to replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association.”
The most likely candidates to replace Asian qualifier Iran appears to be Iraq or United Arab Emirates, who finished ninth and 10th-ranked in qualifying and advanced to a two-leg playoff last November.
Iraq can still qualify for the tournament by beating one of Bolivia or Suriname in Inter-confederation play-off final later in March.
