The United States, the host country, would not seek to exclude Iran from the World Cup football this summer: this was stated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. On Wednesday, an American official mentioned the possibility of replacing war-torn Iran with Italy, which did not qualify.
“The issue with Iran would not be their athletes. It would be some of the other people they want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard,” stated Marco Rubio to journalists.
“I don’t know where that’s coming from, it’s speculation that Iran might decide not to come, and Italy would take its place,” added the US Secretary of State.
A proposal submitted to Trump and Infantino
As uncertainty looms over Iran’s participation due to the conflict in the Middle East, an advisor to Donald Trump told the Financial Times on Thursday that he suggested the unlikely scenario of replacing Iran with Italy to the US President and Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, for the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Italian officials also dismissed on Thursday any reshuffling of the four-time world champions, who failed to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup after being eliminated in the European playoffs by Bosnia-Herzegovina in late March.
“If Iranian players decide not to come on their own initiative, it’s because they have decided not to come,” continued Marco Rubio. “What they cannot do is bring in a bunch of Islamic Revolutionary Guard terrorists pretending they are journalists and physical trainers.”
Context: The article discusses the possibility of Iran being replaced by Italy in the World Cup football tournament this summer due to concerns over the presence of individuals with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Fact Check: Marco Rubio is not the Secretary of State; he is a US Senator.
