U.S. Denies Report of Seeking to Replace Iran with Italy at 2026 World Cup

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports that the Trump administration sought to have Iran replaced by Italy in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating there is “nothing” from the United States indicating Iran’s national team cannot participate in the tournament.

The denial comes after an aide to former President Donald Trump reportedly suggested to both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Iran be swapped for Italy in the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament.

Rubio made the comments during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, April 23, 2026, addressing questions raised by journalists following the initial report in the Financial Times.

“There is nothing from the United States that indicates they [the Iranian team] cannot arrive,” Rubio said, according to multiple verified reports. “If Iran wants to come to the competition, they will not be stopped.”

The U.S. Secretary of State clarified that any potential issues regarding Iran’s participation would not involve the athletes themselves, but rather concerns about certain individuals who might accompany the delegation.

“The problem with Iran would not be its athletes, but some of the other people who might want to come with them, some of whom have ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Rubio stated. “Perhaps we cannot let them in, but the athletes themselves certainly could.”

Rubio further emphasized that any decision by Iranian players not to travel would be entirely voluntary.

“If the Iranian players decide not to come on their own initiative, This proves because they chose not to come,” he said. “What they cannot do is bring a bunch of terrorists into our country pretending to be journalists and fitness trainers.”

The initial suggestion to replace Iran with Italy was attributed to Paolo Zampolli, described as a special envoy for global business under the Trump administration, who spoke to the Financial Times on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Italian officials swiftly rejected the idea when it was first reported. Italy’s Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, called the proposal “shameful,” while Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi stated it was “not possible” and “not appropriate,” adding that teams must qualify “on the field.”

Italian national team coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters that if Iran were unable to participate, the logical replacement would be the team that finished just behind them in qualifying, not Italy specifically. He likewise said Italy did not need U.S. Support on such a matter.

Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, said he would feel “offended” if Italy took Iran’s place, stating that teams must “earn” their spot in the World Cup.

Iran secured its qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in the Asian qualifiers, a result celebrated by players including Omid Norafkan and Saman Ghoddos.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations and the first to feature an expanded 48-team format.

As of the latest verified reports, there have been no official indications from FIFA or the U.S. Soccer Federation that Iran’s participation is in jeopardy due to geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

The situation remains fluid, with U.S. Officials maintaining that while logistical and security concerns may apply to certain non-athlete members of delegations, the players themselves face no blanket ban from entering the host countries for the tournament.

Archysport will continue to monitor developments regarding team qualifications and participation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as official announcements are made by FIFA and the host nations.

What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding Iran’s potential participation in the 2026 World Cup? Share your views in the comments below and facilitate spread the conversation by sharing this article.