The United States says it will permit Iran’s national football team to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while imposing restrictions on certain accompanying personnel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington has no objection to Iranian players taking part in the tournament. However, he stressed that individuals with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will not be allowed to enter the country.
Rubio said authorities would not accept people linked to the IRGC posing as journalists or team staff in order to gain access.
US President Donald Trump has also indicated that athletes themselves should not be affected by political tensions.
The remarks follow a controversial suggestion by Paolo Zampolli, who proposed that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament. He said he had raised the idea with both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Italian officials quickly rejected the proposal, and it was met with scepticism among the public.
There is currently no indication that Iran will be excluded or withdraw from the competition. Meanwhile, the Italy national football team failed to qualify after losing a playoff, marking a third straight absence from the World Cup.
The 2026 tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada — kicks off on June 11.
Iran is set to begin its campaign against the New Zealand national football team in Los Angeles on June 15.
Earlier this month, Tehran said its participation could hinge on whether FIFA agrees to move its group-stage matches outside the United States.
Sources: Reuters
