Iran decides to participate in the World Cup after American calls to replace it with Italy sports

Coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s envoy calling on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to replace the Iranian national team with its Italian counterpart in the 2026 World Cup, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced today, Thursday, that the men’s national team is preparing to provide a “proud and successful participation” in the World Cup finals scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

This official Iranian confirmation came on state television to resolve the controversy that arose about Iran’s ability and desire to travel to North America to participate in the tournament that begins on June 11, especially after the military attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Tehran in late February.

Mohajerani confirmed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports issued a statement announcing the full readiness of the national team to participate in the 2026 World Cup, noting that “the necessary arrangements have been made for the team’s participation in a way that calls for pride.”

This comes at a time when the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rejects any proposals to move the Iranian national team’s matches to Mexico, stressing adherence to the match schedule that was approved last December.

Trump’s envoy calls for replacing Iran with Italy

In a related context, the Financial Times quoted US special envoy Paolo Zampolli as saying that seeing Italy, which has won the title four times, in the tournament that will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada would be a “dream,” despite its failure to qualify after losing in the playoff last month.

The newspaper reported that this proposal came as part of efforts to mend relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after relations between them became tense following her criticism of his attack on Pope Leo XIV over the backdrop of the war with Iran.

Zampoli told the newspaper, “I confirm that I proposed to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni Infantino) that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am Italian by origin, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament held in the United States. With 4 titles, the team has justification for its participation.”

Iran national team is preparing for the World Cup

Although the Iranian Football League was suspended due to war conditions, the Iranian national team continued its training in Tehran, with promises from FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, to help provide a training camp outside Iran, likely to be in Turkey, which recently hosted friendly matches for the Iranian national team against Nigeria and Costa Rica.

The Iranian Football Federation announced on Wednesday evening that the first training camp for the national team, with an initial list of 30 players, will be in the capital, Tehran.

On May 6, the team will head to Türkiye, where Iran is preparing to play 4 friendly matches, including a confrontation against Spain, before traveling to the United States.

Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Federation, said that he is confident that his country will participate in the World Cup despite the ongoing conflict.

He added in statements to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), “According to the current situation, we will participate in the World Cup.”

The Iranian national team is scheduled to play its group stage matches in Inglewood against New Zealand and Belgium, before heading to Seattle to face the Egyptian national team.

The issue of granting entry visas to the Iranian delegation by the American government remains the most prominent obstacle awaiting resolution, especially since the head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, was previously prevented from attending the tournament draw in Washington.

According to International Federation regulations, the Iranian national team must arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona, no later than June 10, that is, at least 5 days before its opening match in the tournament.