US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he added that the players will not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Nothing from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio told reporters.
President Donald Trump also said his administration “would not want to affect the athletes” in comments he made at the White House.
The 2026 soccer World Cup is set to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy with no official connection to the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament. He told the Financial Times that he floated the proposal to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Problem is not the athletes, says Rubio
“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves,” Rubio said.
“They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
Currently, there is no suggestion that Iran will withdraw or be banned from the tournament that Italy missed out on.
After the start of the Iran war, Iran requested that FIFA move the team’s three group matches from the US to Mexico, which was rejected.
Italy officials: ‘Not appropriate’ to replace Iran in World Cup
Zampolli’s suggestion that Italy could replace Iran at the World Cup is “shameful” and “not appropriate,” Italian sports officials responded to the US envoy’s request.
Iran’s place in the field has been up in the air since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against the nation at the end of February. Trump has given mixed signals about Iran’s participation, saying they were “welcome” but also expressing concerns about “their life and safety.”
Italy, four-time World Cup champions, failed to qualify for this summer’s 48-team tournament in North America and has not played in the event since 2014. Italy has the “pedigree to justify inclusion,” Zampolli said.
Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi emphatically ruled out the idea of getting into the World Cup through a back door. A penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff last month ended Italy’s bid to qualify.
“Italy’s possible re-qualification for the 2026 World Cup … is firstly, not possible and secondly, not appropriate,” Abodi told Sky News. “I don’t know what comes first. Qualification is on the pitch.”
Luciano Buonfiglio, president of Italy’s National Olympic Committee, agreed with Abodi’s remarks.
“First of all, I don’t think it’s possible,” Buonfiglio said. “Second, I’d feel offended. In order to go to the World Cup, you have to earn it.”
Italy’s economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.”
Iran has two group games scheduled in Inglewood, California, and the third in Seattle.
Source:
www.jpost.com
