US says Iran players welcome at World Cup amid Italy uproar

TL;DR

Iran's footballers are confirmed to participate in the World Cup, as stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite a proposal for Italy to replace them. Rubio clarified that the US has not barred Iranian athletes but may restrict entry for certain delegation members linked to the IRGC.

Key points

Iran's football team will participate in the World Cup.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the athletes are welcome.
A proposal for Italy to replace Iran was dismissed by US and Italian officials.
Entry for some Iranian delegation members may be restricted due to ties to the IRGC.
FIFA has reiterated that Iran will play where scheduled.

Mentioned in this story

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Iran are scheduled to play their World Cup matches in the United States (Frederic J. Brown) (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/AFP) Iran's footballers will be welcome at this year's World Cup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, distancing the US government from a proposal that Italy could take their place in the tournament. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Rubio denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to come to the World Cup -- but warned the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation it judged to have ties to Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington and several other governments. No-one "from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio said of Iran's World Cup participation. "The problem with Iran, it would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves," Rubio added. Rubio was responding to a reported proposal from Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli, who told the Financial Times he had floated the idea of Italy taking Iran's World Cup place to US President Donald Trump and football's world governing body FIFA. The proposal was dismissed out of hand by the Italian government and sports officials earlier Thursday. Rubio said the proposal did not reflect the US government's position. "I don't know where that's coming from, other than speculation that Iran may decide not to come, and Italy would fill their spot," Rubio said. "But that's if they decide not to come on their own, it's because they decided not to come." Zampolli told the Financial Times on Wednesday it would be a "dream" to see Italy at the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada despite the fact they lost in a qualification playoff last month.

Q&A

Will Iran's football team participate in the World Cup?

Yes, Iran's football team is confirmed to participate in the World Cup.

What was the proposal regarding Italy replacing Iran in the World Cup?

A proposal suggested Italy could take Iran's place in the World Cup, but it was dismissed by both the Italian government and US officials.

Why might some members of Iran's delegation be barred from entering the US?

Some members of Iran's delegation may be barred due to their ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US.

What did FIFA say about Iran's participation in the World Cup?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the World Cup and will play in the designated locations according to the draw.

US says Iran players welcome at World Cup amid Italy uproar

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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