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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Chris Nee

Italy officially decline World Cup 2026 rescue route – even if Iran withdraw

World Cup Italy Iran Gianni Infantino Fifa World Cup 2026 Azzurri Donald Trump Giorgia Meloni Paolo Zampolli
Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, attends the Milan Furniture Fair (Salone Internazionale del Mobile.Milano) during the Milan Design Week 2026 at Rho Fieramilano on April 21, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto).

Italy will not be playing at this summer's World Cup irrespective of what happens to Iran's place in Group G.

World Cup 2026 is less than two months away and the participation of Iran remains subject to intense speculation despite their qualifying on the pitch.

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