Andrea Abodi, Italy’s Minister for Sport, has indicated that he considers it highly improbable for Italy to step in as a replacement for Iran in the World Cup, stating, “and I wouldn’t even hope for it.”
Despite Italy’s absence from the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament, speculation has emerged suggesting the Azzurri could potentially fill Iran’s spot if the Asian nation withdraws due to the ongoing conflicts involving the USA and Israel. However, Minister Abodi has downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome.
“It’s a continental matter,” Abodi commented to reporters. “It seems very difficult to me that there could be an issue, unless one arises within Europe.”
When questioned about the possibility of the Italian national team being readmitted to the competition based on developments from other continents, Abodi reiterated his stance: “I don’t think so, and I wouldn’t even hope for it.”
In the event of Iran’s withdrawal, FIFA would be responsible for selecting a replacement. While Italy holds the highest FIFA ranking among the non-qualified teams, the most probable outcome would be another Asian confederation team taking Iran’s place.