FIFA has rejected suggestions to replace Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup, reaffirming that Iran will participate in the tournament.
The proposal, reportedly put forward by Paolo Zampolli, suggested that Italy take Iran’s place amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. However, FIFA maintained its stance, referencing comments by its president, Gianni Infantino, who confirmed that the Iranian team would compete as scheduled.
Iran’s participation had faced uncertainty due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel, but officials in Tehran have reiterated that the national team is preparing for a strong showing at the tournament.
The Iranian government criticised the replacement suggestion, describing it as inappropriate and politically motivated, while Italian officials also rejected the idea, stressing that World Cup qualification must be earned on merit.
Italy, a four-time world champion, failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament after losing in the playoffs, marking its third consecutive absence from the competition.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off on June 11, will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA rules state that the organisation retains full authority to decide on replacements if a participating team withdraws or is disqualified.
