Ruptly
"Italian sporting officials on Friday dismissed the suggestion that Italy could replace Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as debate over qualification rules and political tensions continue to surface. Speaking in Rome, Italy’s Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, reiterated that World Cup participation must be decided strictly on sporting merit. “I only know that until the last penalty, I was praying to be able to go to the World Cup. I had no other thoughts,” Abodi said, stressing that qualification should be earned “on the pitch” rather than through external intervention. He added that football governance should remain insulated from political pressure, reaffirming Italy’s opposition to any form of “repechage” entry system for major tournaments. “I am used to continuity of thought… this is not an issue for us,” he said, responding to questions about possible discussions on alternative qualification scenarios. Luciano Buonfiglio, a senior Italian sports executive and CONI official, was more direct in rejecting the idea of replacing any qualified national team. “Repechage, in my view, is offensive… we do not need handouts; we need to rebuild an identity,” he said. “There is no magic wand - neither a man nor a woman with a magic wand.” The discussion on Iran’s possible replacement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup emerged amid broader political tensions, following a period of heightened confrontation between Washington and Tehran. While no official proposal has been issued by FIFA or tournament organisers, the debate has circulated in the media and political commentary. Iran has not publicly issued any formal statement regarding withdrawal from or exclusion from the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams."
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