Iran players welcome at World Cup: Marco Rubio

Iran’s national football team will be allowed to compete at this year’s FIFA World Cup, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, distancing Washington from speculation that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament.

"Iran's footballers will be welcome at this year's World Cup," he said while speaking at the White House on Thursday (April 24).

Rubio clarified that the United States has not asked Iran to withdraw from the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

No-one "from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio said of Iran's World Cup participation.

However, he indicated that visa restrictions could apply to certain members of Iran’s delegation. “The issue is not with the athletes,” Rubio said, noting that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—designated as a terrorist organisation by the US—may be denied entry.

His remarks come after reports that US special envoy Paolo Zampolli proposed to Donald Trump and FIFA that Italy could take Iran’s place if the team does not participate. The suggestion was swiftly rejected by Italian authorities and sports officials.

Rubio dismissed the proposal as speculation, saying any absence of Iran would be its own decision, not a result of US pressure.

Uncertainty over Iran’s participation has grown amid ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel since late February. The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran previously said it was in talks with FIFA to potentially relocate its matches from the United States to Mexico.

Despite the concerns, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran will compete in the tournament as scheduled and play according to the official draw.

The situation underscores the intersection of geopolitics and global sport as the World Cup approaches.