Italy’s repechage to the World Cup: now the whole world is talking about it. Mini-tournament on the way?
FIFA has rejected Iran’s request to move its World Cup group matches from the United States to Mexico, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed. The country had said it was willing to host the matches of Tehran’s selection, which refuses to play group matches in the United States as scheduled, but FIFA reportedly ruled out the possibility of a change of venue, citing logistical impediments.
“FIFA has finally decided that the matches cannot be moved from the original venues. Relocation would make the logistics too complicated, and this decision was made by FIFA,” Sheinbaum told Al-Jazeera. The situation is at a stalemate: Iran refuses to play in the United States, a co-belligerent party to the conflict along with Israel, and may soon announce its final forfeit at the World Cup.
Iran, among the first countries to qualify for the World Cup, is included in Group G of the tournament along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand and is expected to play all matches on the West Coast of the United States: two in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26). Infantino recently downplayed the possibility of an Iran forfeit, but the prolonged conflict seems to be pushing away any hope of participation.
And now even the foreign media are speculating on who might replace Iran: Italy’s name is prominent in newspapers around the world. The Azzurri, the top-ranked unqualified team, would be repechaged as a “lucky loser” to participate in the event.
Among the speculated scenarios is that of an intercontinental final between a European team (Italy) and an Asian team (UAE favored), but there is also discussion of a possible pre-World Cup mini-tournament between two European and two Asian teams.
The World Cup will begin on June 11 with the Mexico-South Africa match: time is running out and FIFA will have to find a solution as soon as possible. The selected team should also make logistical arrangements to participate in the event.
