Rubio: Iran may attend World Cup, but IRGC members will be denied visas

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran’s national football team will be allowed to participate in this year’s FIFA World Cup, distancing the administration from suggestions that the team could be excluded or replaced.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on April 23, Rubio stressed that no US officials had indicated Iran would be blocked from entering the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“No-one from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio said, referring to Iran’s participation.

However, he added that while athletes would be permitted entry, certain members of the Iranian delegation could face restrictions if they are found to have ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington designates as a terrorist organisation.

“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 said.

His comments came amid controversy over a reported proposal by Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli, who suggested Italy could take Iran’s place at the tournament despite failing to qualify. Zampolli described the idea as a “dream” scenario in remarks to the Financial Times.

The proposal was quickly rejected by Italian officials and football authorities, while Rubio also dismissed it as speculation, saying it did not represent US government policy.

“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,” he said. “But that’s if they decide not to come on their own.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking the first time the tournament will be held across three countries.