Italy's national football team keeps alive the hope of participating in the 2026 World Cup through a possible playoff if FIFA decides to act following a potential withdrawal by Iran due to the conflict with the United States. The 'Azzurra', who failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing the playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina, is closely monitoring a possible scenario where Iran's withdrawal could open the door to a World Cup berth, as local media reported on Tuesday. In case of an Iranian withdrawal, article 6.7 of FIFA's regulations, presided over by Italo-Swiss Gianni Infantino, states that world football's governing body can designate a substitute at its discretion. In this context, Italy's position in the FIFA ranking, currently 12th, could play in its favor, although the chances are still considered remote, and another possible pathway would be for the vacant spot to be filled by another Asian team. In the hypothetical event of an exceptional playoff, two European teams, possibly the highest-ranked among those not qualified, such as Italy and Denmark, and two Asian teams could participate. The system would feature semi-finals and a single-match final to decide the last qualifier. For now, there is no defined schedule for a decision on this matter, as everything will depend on the evolution of the situation in the Middle East and the official confirmation of Iran's participation. Furthermore, the final decision would rest with the FIFA Council, the organization's main decision-making body, composed of 37 members and chaired by Infantino. This body would be responsible for determining how to fill a potential vacancy in Group G of the tournament, where Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand would be waiting. The decision would also need to be made well in advance of the tournament's start, scheduled for June 11, and the regulations impose financial penalties for teams that withdraw less than 30 days before their first match, which theoretically sets a deadline of May 12. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) thus remains awaiting a possible path to the World Cup after the disaster of failing to qualify for the third consecutive time.
