The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has settled the ongoing debate about the possibility of excluding the Iranian national team from the 2026 World Cup, affirming decisively that there are no plans to replace it with the Italian team, despite recent suggestions from American political circles.

This swift response has closed the door on speculations that stirred widespread controversy in sports and media circles.

An envoy associated with U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed the idea of replacing Iran with Italy amid current political tensions, but this suggestion was met with clear rejection from FIFA, which emphasized that sports decisions are settled on the field and not outside it, and that qualification cannot be granted through exceptional decisions.

For his part, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated in previous remarks that the Iranian team will “definitely” participate in the tournament, explaining that there are no alternative plans. He also stressed that the Iranian team represents its people both inside and outside the country, and its participation is a settled matter, especially after its official qualification for the tournament.

The World Cup tournament kicks off on June 11 with the participation of 48 teams, where the Iranian team is set to play in Group G alongside the teams of Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt.