If Iran Withdraws, Italy Could Participate in the World Cup

The Italian national team, which lost its chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, may still be able to achieve this.

According to Lent.az, citing foreign media, this opportunity will arise if Iran withdraws from the tournament permanently. 

Iran was one of the first teams to secure a place in the upcoming tournament, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in March 2025. Iran's participation in the tournament is currently in doubt due to the military operation launched by the US and Israel against Iran in late February.

According to other reports, the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) is preparing a special intercontinental play-off scenario to fill the vacant spot. The mini-tournament is planned to involve two teams from Asia and two from Europe. The winner of this game will qualify for the World Cup.

If such a qualifying stage takes place, Italy is considered the main favorite from the European zone.

The decisive factor will be the high position of the Italians in the FIFA ranking, which will practically guarantee their participation in the play-offs.

It should be recalled that on March 31, the Italian national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, suffering a shocking defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1, 1-4) in the decisive European qualifying play-off match.

The Italians may miss a third consecutive World Cup; their last appearance was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they failed to advance from a group that included England, Uruguay, and Costa Rica.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will take place between June 11 and July 19 and will be held for the first time with the participation of 48 national teams.