The United States assured that it is not seeking to exclude the Iranian National Team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup or replace it with the Italian National Team, after versions of that possibility emerged amid geopolitical tensions with Tehran.
The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, denied the speculation and stated that the problem is not related to the Iranian soccer players, but rather to possible companions linked to the Iranian military apparatus.
“Iran will be in the World Cup,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously declared.
How the controversy arose
The controversy began after statements by presidential advisor Paolo Zampolli to the Financial Times, where he claimed to have proposed to President Donald Trump and Infantino that Italy take Iran’s place.
Italy was left out of the 2026 World Cup after falling in the European play-offs and will not compete in the World Cup for the third consecutive edition.
Italy rejected the idea
From Rome, Italian authorities immediately ruled out any option of entering the tournament off the field.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said that qualifying in that way “would not be appropriate,” while the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Luciano Buonfiglio, said he would be offended by such a classification.
Iran will play in the United States
According to the planned schedule, Iran will play its Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium, in addition to closing the group stage in Seattle against Egypt.
FIFA maintains that Iran will participate normally, despite the fact that in the midst of the regional conflict the country had asked to move its matches to Mexico.
