Fußball-WM 2026: US Government Confirms Iran Team Welcome Despite Political Pressure

WASHINGTON — In a clear rebuke to political efforts seeking to exclude Iran from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Iran’s national football team remains welcome to participate in the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The statement came amid ongoing speculation fueled by a proposal from Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy for global partnerships appointed by President Donald Trump, who suggested replacing Iran with Italy at the World Cup. According to reports from the Financial Times cited by multiple German outlets including Spiegel and Sportschau, Zampolli told the publication he had proposed to both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy should take Iran’s place in the tournament.

“I can confirm that I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy should replace Iran at the World Cup,” Zampolli was quoted as saying. He cited his Italian heritage as motivation, calling it “a dream” to see the four-time World Cup champions participate in a tournament held in the United States.

However, Rubio directly contradicted this initiative during remarks in the Oval Office, stating unequivocally that no official communication had been made to Iran suggesting they were unwelcome.

“Nobody in the United States has told them they cannot come,” Rubio said, according to the Spiegel report. He added that while restrictions might apply to certain individuals associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps — which the US and several other nations designate as a terrorist organization — the players themselves face no barrier to entry.

“It could be that we do not let them in, but that does not apply to the players themselves,” Rubio clarified, separating potential administrative scrutiny of team officials from the athletes’ right to compete.

The controversy highlights the complex intersection of sports and international politics surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Iran secured qualification through standard athletic competition, while Italy failed to qualify for the third consecutive major tournament after losing their playoff semifinal to Bosnia and Herzegovina in dramatic fashion — a match decided by a penalty shootout following a hard-fought contest.

Despite Iran’s on-field qualification, their participation had been questioned due to geopolitical tensions. The United States and Iran have been in a state of direct conflict since late February 2026, though a ceasefire currently holds. Infantino had previously sought to assuage concerns, telling the CNBC “Invest in America Forum” that Iran’s participation was certain.

“The Iranian team will definitely participate,” Infantino had stated, reinforcing FIFA’s position that the tournament would proceed with all qualified teams unless formally withdrawn or excluded under existing regulations.

FIFA’s tournament rules contain no automatic mechanism for replacing a qualified nation that declines to participate or is unable to do so. The governing body merely states it “may decide to replace the affected member association with another,” leaving any such action entirely at FIFA’s discretion without a predefined replacement process.

Italy’s claim to consideration rests partly on their FIFA world ranking — currently 12th, making them the highest-ranked team that failed to qualify — and their historical pedigree as four-time champions. However, Rubio’s comments effectively ended the political push to invoke this discretion in Iran’s case.

The Italian Football Federation has not publicly endorsed the replacement idea, with reports indicating they too rejected the notion of benefiting from Iran’s potential exclusion. This unified stance from both governments undermines the premise that political maneuvering could secure Italy a backdoor entry to the World Cup.

As of late April 2026, with the tournament opening match scheduled for June 11, Iran’s participation appears secure barring unforeseen developments. The team will join 47 other nations in what will be the first 48-team World Cup, expanded from the traditional 32-team format.

The situation underscores how sporting events can develop into focal points for broader diplomatic strains, even as governing bodies strive to maintain competition integrity. For now, the focus remains on the field, where Iran earned their place through qualification, not political negotiation.

Archysport will continue to monitor official channels for any updates regarding team participation as the tournament approaches.

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