Iran has made substantial progress towards securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup. The team has commenced pre-tournament preparations in Turkey, following fresh assurances from FIFA regarding their participation. This development effectively ends speculation that had created potential consequences for Italy.
According to reports, a productive meeting took place in Istanbul between FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and the Iranian Football Federation. During this meeting, Grafström reaffirmed Iran’s welcome to the tournament.
The Iranian squad will establish Antalya as a temporary base to finalize visa applications before their journey to the United States.
Iran’s presence at the tournament had been uncertain due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts. Federation president Mehdi Taj had previously highlighted significant delays in the visa application process.
This uncertainty briefly fueled speculation that Italy, as the highest-ranked nation that did not qualify through the standard route, might be invited as a replacement. However, most observers considered this notion a mere additional setback for the Italian team.
With Iran’s path to the World Cup now confirmed, the possibility of such an eleventh-hour entry for Italy is definitively closed.
