Italy repechage to World Cup, former FIFA board member boosts Azzurri hopes

Just over a month and a half to go until the start of the World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico, and Iran’s participation in the rainbow event remains in the balance after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. Every day there are alternating optimistic and pessimistic voices about the presence of Tehran’s selection: former UEFA member on the FIFA board Evelina Christillin appeared very doubtful in an interview with Radio Anch’io Sport on Radio 1.

“I see Iran’s participation in the World Cup quite difficult. The president of the Iranian Football Federation has said they want to play, while the Iranian government seems much more cautious to me. It’s a month and a half before the World Cup starts, really hard to imagine their participation, although I hope so.”

FIFA President Infantino said he is certain Iran will be there, but according to behind-the-scenes rumors there are discussions about the possible replacement if the conflict in the Gulf is not resolved soon. Italy would also be in the running: “It has the highest ranking of the excluded, 12th. The United Arab Emirates is the first unqualified team in the Afc, the Asian confederation,” Christillin said.

“Let me make a heartfelt suggestion: last year, with a rather non-existent penalty at 97′, Palestine was eliminated by Oman in the Asian qualifiers. It would be a nice gesture to re-explore Palestine at this time,” he added.

“To think of qualifying by the skin of your teeth because another national team cannot play is a bit humiliating for a national team that has won four World Cups,” said Christillin, who did not, however, deny the possibility of a mini-tournament between eliminated.