Italy’s repechage to the World Cup: Gianni Infantino tries them all

FIFA has summoned Iran to Zurich by May 20 to finalize the organizational aspects of its trip to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, in a framework made complex by political and logistical tensions related to relations between Tehran and Washington.

While Italy continues to hope for a repechage, Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj has called for a direct confrontation with FIFA to address several outstanding issues. The international federation, while ruling out changes to the schedule, remains awaiting an official response and is aiming for a clarifying meeting before the tournament begins, scheduled for June 11.

Tehran, which in recent weeks had also ventilated the possibility of a boycott, unsuccessfully asked to move its matches to Mexico. The request was rejected, and the pre-World Cup retreat remains confirmed in Tucson, Arizona.

Included in Group G along with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, Iran is scheduled to make its debut on June 15 in Los Angeles against New Zealand specifically. The Zurich meeting is seen as crucial to ensure the team’s full participation and to untangle the still unresolved administrative and diplomatic knots in time.