US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington has no objection to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but added that they will not be allowed to bring individuals with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt, as all of its group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in the United States.
"Nothing from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio told reporters. "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. We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves," he said.
"They can't bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers," Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a "foreign terrorist organization."
US President Donald Trump, speaking alongside Rubio, said his administration "would not want to affect the athletes." The World Cup is set to begin on June 11 across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Speculation about Iran's participation has been rife, with officials from both countries weighing in. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Wednesday that all necessary arrangements for the team's participation have been ensured by the Ministry of Sports and Youth.
An envoy for Trump, Paolo Zampolli, has suggested that Italy, which failed to qualify for a third straight edition, should replace Iran. Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi rebuked the idea, saying "it is not appropriate... You qualify on the pitch," while Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called it "shameful."
Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but, after the start of the war, requested that FIFA move its group matches to Mexico—a suggestion that was rejected. Iranian football federation President Mehdi Taj said, "We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities."
Source: www.aljazeera.com