Constraints on Standard Model Constructions in F-theory

We argue that the following three statements cannot all be true: (i) our vacuum is a type IIB / F-theory vacuum at moderate-to-large $h^{1,1}$, (ii) the $\alpha'$-expansion is controlled via the supergravity approximation, à la the KKLT and LVS scenarios, and (iii) there are no additional gauged sectors from seven-branes. Since nearly all known globally consistent F-theory models with the exact chiral spectrum of the Standard Model and gauge coupling unification occur at moderate $h^{1,1}$, this finding calls for new moduli stabilization scenarios or/and a rich seven-brane dark sector.