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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports that Iran could be removed from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying Washington has not moved to block Iranian athletes from entering the country.
Rubio said the issue was not Iran’s players, but other people the team might seek to bring along. He warned that individuals suspected of links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, a powerful Iranian military organization, may be denied entry.
“There’s nothing from the U.S. that has told them they can’t come,” Rubio told reporters at the White House after an ambassador-level meeting between Israel and Lebanon.
He said “the problem with Iran would not be their athletes,” but some accompanying individuals, adding that the US “may not be able to let them in” if they are suspected of IRGC ties.
U.S. President Donald Trump also said the U.S. “would not want to affect the athletes.”
Rubio also denied reports that Italy could replace Iran at the tournament.
The remarks came after a Financial Times report said U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli had proposed to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy take Iran’s place.
Iran has said it is fully prepared to take part, while FIFA has indicated that the Iranian team is expected to compete. Italy has also rejected the proposal, saying World Cup qualification must be earned on merit.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
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