The Embassy of Iran in Italy has strongly reacted to reports involving an envoy linked to US President Donald Trump, who allegedly suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a firm statement, the Iranian Embassy rejected the idea and defended Iran’s place in the global tournament.
The embassy stressed that football should remain free from political influence and decisions.
“Football belongs to the people, not to politicians,” the statement said.
The embassy made it clear that decisions about participation in major tournaments should be based on performance on the pitch, not political considerations.
The statement also praised Italy’s football history but insisted that success must always be earned through competition.
“Italy achieved footballing glory on the pitch, not through political favors,” it added.
The Iranian Embassy went further to criticize the idea of excluding the country from the tournament. It described such efforts as unfair and politically motivated.
“Efforts to exclude Iran from the World Cup only demonstrate the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States,” the statement said.
In a strong closing remark, the embassy added that fears about Iran’s participation were misplaced. It said the concern over “the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field” shows a misunderstanding of what football represents.
The World Cup is known for bringing countries together and celebrating unity through sport. Many fans believe it should remain a platform for fair competition and cultural exchange, rather than political conflict.
