Rubio denies claims of Iran's World Cup substitution

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied the validity of claims that Washington intends to exclude the Iranian football team from the 2026 World Cup and replace it with its Italian counterpart.

Rubio said in press statements, Thursday, April 23, 2026, that Washington is not opposed to the participation of Iranian players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that it has not taken steps to prevent their entry into the United States.

He said the problem was not about the players, while stressing that Washington would not allow people "with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps" to enter the country.

US President Donald Trump has previously said that Washington does not want athletes to be affected by the war between Iran on the one hand, and the United States and Israel on the other.

Trump's envoy: I asked to replace Italy with Iran in the World Cup

This comes after  the British newspaper "Financial Times" quoted the  US president's special envoy, Paolo Zampoli, as saying: "I confirm that I have proposed to Trump and FIFA president Gianianin'Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup."

"I am of Italian descent, and it would be a dream for me to see the Azzurri in a tournament hosted by the United States. Thanks to their four titles (at the World Cup), they have the historic record and the status that justifies their inclusion in the competition."

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, for the third time in a row, after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Annex at the end of last