Will the door to the 2026 World Cup reopen for Italy?
The door to the 2026 World Cup reopens for Italy if Iran withdraws. FIFA is considering an intercontinental play-off between Italy, Denmark, UAE, and Oman.
Italy still has a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup thanks to a special scenario.
Italy unexpectedly has a chance to return to the 2026 World Cup in a special scenario, given the uncertain future of the Iranian national team. FIFA is preparing a contingency plan should the Asian representative be unable to participate in the tournament.
This news offers renewed hope for the Italian national team after their failure in the European play-offs. Although their World Cup dream seemed over, the Azzurri may still be given one last chance.
Iran's chances of participating in the 2026 World Cup remain uncertain due to issues related to the current instability. FIFA is reportedly developing a contingency plan in case the team withdraws at the last minute.
According to The Athletic, FIFA is considering organizing an intercontinental play-off round to find a replacement team. This option would be used if Iran is unable to participate as planned.
Italy could make a comeback thanks to the intercontinental play-offs.
The value of this opportunity lies in the fact that Italy is among the highest-ranked teams in the FIFA rankings that have yet to qualify for the World Cup. According to the rankings, Italy is 12th in the world, the highest among the teams that could participate in the play-offs.
The proposed scenario involves four teams: Italy and Denmark representing Europe, and UAE and Oman representing Asia. These teams would compete in the semi-finals and final to determine which team would replace Iran.
If this scenario unfolds, Italy is considered the leading contender due to its superior experience and ranking compared to the other competitors.
Italy's challenging journey before a new opportunity.
Italy failed to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Bosnia & Herzegovina on penalties in the European play-off final. This defeat means the team has once again missed out on the biggest football event on the planet.
This is the third consecutive time Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup, following the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. This string of results has led to significant changes within the team, from the coaching staff to the administrative structure.
Whether Italy has a chance or not depends entirely on Iran's final decision. The West Asian team is still on the list of participants and is placed in Group G along with Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand.
However, controversy arose when Iran wanted to play its group stage matches in Mexico, a proposal that FIFA had not yet approved. This difference of opinion meant that Iran's participation was not guaranteed.
According to the schedule, Iran will face New Zealand on June 16th, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt in the United States. FIFA is awaiting an official response from the team before making a final decision.