Italy’s repechage to World Cup, comes another 'no' from minister

The possible repechage of Italy to the upcoming World Cup to be held from mid-June between the United States, Mexico and Canada continues to hold the headlines. The hypothesis of seeing the Azzurri in the rainbow competition stems from Iran’s possible forfeit due to the current geopolitical situation but, despite the tension between Washington and Tehran, Minister for Sports and Youth Andrea Abodi rules out the option.

Intervening remotely at the Future Direction North event, Abodi was crystal clear: “I don’t think there are any possibilities and then it would not even be appropriate. One qualifies on the field, that remains my position. One qualifies on merit, moreover I believe that if any national team should be missing this one should be replaced by one from the same confederation.”

Already at the end of April, the Minister for Sport and Youth had expressed his position: “I don’t think it is possible and second it would not even be appropriate, one qualifies on the field.” Like him, many Italians think the same: Gazzetta dello Sport launched a poll asking readers for their opinion on the possible repechage and 78.3 percent were against seeing Gianluigi Donnarumma and his teammates at the rainbow competition.

Italy is, among the non-qualifying teams, the one with the highest ranking and FIFA regulations, in Article 6.7, leave any scenario open, stating that “FIFA will decide on the matter at its sole discretion and will take any measure deemed necessary.”