Italy’s repechage to World Cup, another blow on blue hopes

The change in the relationship between Italians and soccer also emerges from the debate on the possible repechage of the national team to the World Cup, a hypothesis that cyclically comes back into circulation. Recently, ministers Abodi and Giorgetti, along with the president of CONI, have ruled out this possibility. A position that seems to reflect public opinion, at least according to an Izi poll. The numbers are stark: about 70 percent of Italians are against a possible repechage in Iran’s place, while only 30 percent say they are in favor.

In detail, out of 1,024 people surveyed on April 23, 40 percent believe that Italy does not deserve qualification and that it would be undignified to participate in this way; another 30 percent see Iran’s possible exclusion as a political choice not to be supported. Among those in favor, 16.2 percent consider repechage a recognition of Italy’s sports history, while 14.3 percent would accept it even without merit, pointing out the long absence from the World Cup.

The sentiment of public opinion is echoed in the words of some of the most authoritative voices on the Italian media and institutional scene. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti was lapidary: “I find it shameful. I would be ashamed,” while CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio said he was “offended” at the idea, stressing that “participation in a World Cup should be deserved.” On the same wavelength was journalist Enrico Mentana, who spoke of the prospect as “sleazy and unfair, and offensive to our sports history.” A voice partially out of the chorus is that of former FIGC president Giancarlo Abete, who while expressing “great perplexity” about the regulatory plan, left a glimmer open: “As fans, one can only hope.”

The opposition to the repechage is also confirmed in a second poll, the one conducted by Gazzetta dello Sport on more than 27 thousand voters: the option “No, the World Cup had to be won on the field” overwhelmingly won with 78.3 percent of the votes, against 21.7 percent in favor. A convergence of data that returns an unequivocal picture on the perception of Italians with respect to an eventual participation not earned on the field.

On the international level, the proposal to replace Iran with the Azzurri had been put forward by Paolo Zampolli, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Italy, and had found an unexpected backing in the FIFA rooms. According to statements made last March 10 by Rene Meulensteen, Iraq’s deputy technical commissioner, the World Federation has been considering this hypothesis for some time: “There are also rumors that if FIFA were to make the final decision, it could push the team with the highest FIFA ranking to replace Iran, namely Italy.” FIFA regulations, in Article 6.7, however, leave any scenario open, stating that “FIFA will decide on the matter at its sole discretion and will take whatever action it deems necessary.”

Among the hypotheses on the table is an intercontinental mini-tournament that would involve Italy and Denmark among the Europeans, as well as Asian representatives such as the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with a single World Cup berth up for grabs. A solution that has already sparked an outcry from Bolivia, left out after its elimination at the hands of Iraq, with the La Paz-based federation ready for an official challenge at FIFA if it is excluded from a possible repechage tournament. FIFA is expected to lift the reservation by early May.

In the meantime, signs of a willingness to participate in the World Cup continue to come from Iran. The Iranian national team is scheduled to play a preparatory friendly against North Macedonia in Turkey, where the team is scheduled to depart May 20 for its final internship before moving to the United States. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali reiterated that “if the safety of the national team players in the United States is guaranteed, we will leave for the World Cup,” pointing out that the final decision will be up to government authorities together with the Supreme National Security Council. The Iranian Embassy in Italy, for its part, responded firmly to rumors of repechage: “Football belongs to the people, not to politicians. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only shows the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which even fears the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field of play.”