According to this article, Iran forbids its athletes from playing against Israel.
So suppose this were the FIFA World Cup, and both countries were in, and Iran had to play Israel in the knockout round…say, the Round of 16. Does Iran forfeit and Israel automatically advance? Can Iran request to play another team?
What about the group stage - would Israel automatically get 3 points if Iran refuses to play against Israel? (if they were both in the same group)
Edit: I see from Wikipedia that Israel previously advanced in some tournaments decades ago due to Arab teams refusing to play them, but wondered how this would work at the highest levels of sport.
Israel did not qualify for the World Cup. The knockout round matchups are determined by their group and position. For example, A1 will play B2. B1 will play A2. This means the group winner of A plays the runner-up of B. You cannot request a change. I imagine FIFA would kick out an country that refused to play another country.
Nor can Iran play their other enemy Saudi Arabia in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup; but they can meet in the knockout stages in the miraculous chance that either advances.
Really hoping Israel qualify for the 2022 WC in Qatar.