US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered a brutal warning to Iran’s soccer team ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Discussions over Iran’s place in the competition – set to be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico – have been rife amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
America and Israel’s joint attack on Iran back in February, and the subsequent war that has broken out, plunged Iran’s place at this summer’s World Cup into doubt.
Since then, US special envoy Paolo Zampolli has suggested, to both US President Trump and FIFA President Infantino, that Italy replace Iran this summer.
However, on Thursday, Trump suggested that he has put little thought into that suggestion, before Rubio insisted that the Iranian team are welcome to play.
When asked if he’d considered Zampolli’s suggestion, Trump said: ‘I don’t think about it too much. Let me give that a little thought’.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a warning to Iran’s team ahead of the World Cup
Trump suggested that he has not considered replacing Iran with Italy at the tournament
Iran’s ongoing conflict with America has plunged their place at the World Cup into major doubt
Trump then asked Rubio to offer his stance on the matter, to which he said: ‘Nothing from the US has told them they can’t come.’
However, the US Secretary of State did then send an ominous warning regarding the training staff that Iran would likely bring with them to the tournament.
‘The problem with Iran would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC [Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps],’ he continued.
‘We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves. They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,’ the US official reportedly added.
Earlier this week, Zampolli, who was born in Milan, argued that Italy’s standing as four-time World Cup winners justifies them taking Iran’s spot, despite the fact that his birth country failed to qualify.
It is believed his plan is part of an effort to repair Trump’s relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following their dispute over his criticism of Pope Leo XIV regarding the Iran war.
‘I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament.
‘With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,’ Zampolli reportedly told the Financial Times.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli wants Italy – who didn’t qualify – to take Iran’s World Cup spot
In December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize
Despite his calls for the swap, FIFA reportedly have no plans to replace Iran with Italy at this summer’s World Cup, set to be held across the US, Canada and Mexico.
According to the BBC, FIFA did not officially comment on Zampolli’s suggestions but highlighted a statement made by Infantino last week, where he stated: ‘The Iranian team is coming, for sure’.
‘We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful (one). That would definitely help,’ the FIFA president added.
‘But Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They have qualified… They really want to play, and they should play.’
Similarly, Iran’s soccer federation said in a statement on Wednesday that it very much still plans to participate in the World Cup.
Iran qualified for the World Cup as one of eight teams from the Asian Football Confederation, while Italy failed to secure one of the 16 European spots.
It marks the third consecutive World Cup they have not qualified for, coming as a disaster for the 2021 European champions.
