U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio has downplayed proposals of Italy replacing the Iran national team at this summer’s World Cup while also opening the door to further complications for the Middle Eastern outfit ahead of the tournament.
Iran’s involvement at the imminently impending global jamboree has been called into question since air strikes were launched by the U.S., one of three tournament co-hosts, at the end of February. Several different positions have been taken over the subsequent months, ranging from a complete withdrawal to heated back-and-forths between national team representatives and U.S. President Donald Trump.
