Italy repechage to World Cup: Iran cancels another match

The technical commissioner of Iran’s national soccer team, Amir Ghalenoei, said it is still unclear which teams will face Iran in friendly matches before the 2026 World Cup. Regarding the current status of the national team’s preparation program, Ghalenoei explained, “When we learned that the national championship would not be held, we immediately started the national team’s training program.”

“We will stay in Tehran until May 6 and play two domestic matches. After a few days of rest, we will leave for Turkey. If there are no changes, this is the current plan. Afterwards, if possible, we will move to the United States,” are the words of the coach reported by Wana news agency.

Interviewed about the opponents the Iranian national team will face in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, the coach replied:
“I prefer not to name names at this time. I had mentioned two teams yesterday, but when I arrived at the hotel I found out that those matches had been canceled.” In the past few days the Federation had named Panama as a substitute opponent for Puerto Rico, but the match with the Central Americans was also canceled. Still on the schedule, at least for the time being, are the matches with North Macedonia and Angola.

Despite the difficulties, Ghalenoei was adamant about participating in the tournament: “There are no reasons not to participate in the World Cup. God willing, we will do it.” Iran is placed in Group G along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and is expected to play two matches in Los Angeles — against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 — before closing out the round with Egypt in Seattle on June 26. FIFA had already rejected Iran’s request to transfer the group matches from the United States to Mexico, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirming how the move would make “the logistics too complicated.”

In this scenario of uncertainty, the hypothesis of Italy repechaging Iran instead, put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, has become increasingly insistent. A proposal that has caused more embarrassment than enthusiasm in Italy. According to an Izi poll of more than 1,000 people, about 70 percent of Italians were opposed to the possibility of the Azzurri replacing Iran: 40 percent believe that the national team does not deserve qualification and that it would be undignified to participate in this way, while a further 30 percent see the possible exclusion of Iran as a political choice not to be supported.