By Martin Leduc
Published on
The Squadra Azzurra will not participate in the World Cup for the third consecutive time after being eliminated in the European playoffs final against Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1 a.e.t. 4-1 on penalties) at the end of March. This failure has triggered a seismic event in the country, leading to resignations at the top of the sports authorities.
“Firstly, it’s not possible. Secondly, it wouldn’t be appropriate, we qualify on the field,” said Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, as reported by Italian agencies Ansa and AGI.
“You have to earn your place”
The president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (Coni), Luciano Buonfiglio, said he would feel “offended” if Italy was rejected in this way. “You have to earn your place in the World Cup,” he explained, according to Italian agencies.
While the conflict in the Middle East casts doubt on Iran’s participation, Paolo Zampolli confirmed to the Financial Times on Thursday that he had suggested an improbable scenario to Mr. Trump and Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, who recently stated that Iran would take part in the tournament jointly held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
“I am Italian by birth and it would be a dream to see the Squadra Azzurra in a tournament organized in the United States. With four titles, she has the pedigree to justify her inclusion,” said Paolo Zampolli, Advisor to Donald Trump.
In 2022, after the recent failure of the Azzurri at the same stage, Paolo Zampolli had previously suggested to FIFA, without success, to disqualify Iran due to the violence of its police repression, in order to replace Italy for the World Cup in Qatar.
“Sports should be kept out of politics”
When asked by AFP, the global football body referred to recent statements made by Gianni Infantino. “Iran will be in the World Cup” and will play their first-round matches in the United States as scheduled, as he confirmed to AFP at the end of March following a friendly match of Iran near Antalya, Turkey.
“Iran must come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play,” he reiterated in mid-April during an economic conference in Washington, while hoping for a “peaceful situation” in the Middle East next summer.
“Sports should be kept out of politics,” also emphasized Mr. Infantino, whose explicit connection with Donald Trump has sparked criticism.
Iran starts on June 16 against New Zealand
Iran is scheduled to play its three group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand (June 16) and Belgium (June 21), then in Seattle against Egypt (June 27). Their base camp is expected to be in Tucson, Arizona. At the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East triggered by the United States and Israel on February 28, Iran had initially mentioned a “boycott” of the competition, before requesting FIFA to move their matches from the United States to Mexico. The global body ruled out this option.
FIFA’s regulations give the organization the power to decide unilaterally on the measures to be taken if a team, in this case Iran, were to withdraw. “Football belongs to the people, not the politicians. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only reveals the moral bankruptcy of the United States, who fear even the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field,” wrote the Iranian embassy in Rome.
With AFP.
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