Italy repechage to World Cup: FIFA changes everything, 16 more teams

While questions continue to be raised about Iran’s participation in the World Cup in North America and the possible repechage of the Italian national team in the event of Team Melli’s forfeit, FIFA is planning a total upheaval of the World Cup.

According to rumors reported by Spanish media, the World Federation would like to increase the number of national teams participating in the World Cup to 64, up from the current 48: 16 more selections. The revolution would play a role in the 2030 World Cup, the centennial one, which will see Spain, Morocco and Portugal as organizers.

FIFA is studying the solution after CONMEBOL’s request to further expand the tournament to facilitate the participation of national teams that rarely manage to qualify for the World Cup. Gianni Infantino’s plan is currently in the preliminary stages but could soon gain momentum. FIFA is banking on greater inclusiveness, and many confederations are pushing this proposal.

16 European teams currently qualify for the World Cup: with the change FIFA has in mind, the number of selections could go up significantly (at least 20).

On the Iranian situation front, meanwhile, the signals coming in are mixed. FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström called the talks that took place in Istanbul with the Iranian Football Federation “very constructive,” saying he looked forward “with pleasure to welcoming the Islamic Republic of Iran to the World Cup.” However, concrete obstacles remain: the Iranian national team manager Mehdi Mohammad Nabi revealed that about 50 percent of the national teams participating in the World Cup are still in the visa application stage, and that the Iranian delegation traveled to Ankara to make appointments at the embassies of the United States and Canada. “We are confident that ours will be granted within about ten days. In any case, we already have a backup plan ready which we will make known at the appropriate time,” Nabi said.