Overview
- Italy, highlighted by local media Tuesday, is tracking a last-chance path that exists only if Iran pulls out due to its standoff with the United States.
- FIFA’s regulations give the governing body the power to name a replacement, and the 37-member FIFA Council would set the process and fill any Group G vacancy.
- Italy sits 12th in the FIFA ranking, the highest among teams that missed qualification, which analysts say could help its case even as chances remain slim.
- Media proposals describe a one-off playoff with two European teams, such as Italy or Denmark, and two Asian teams, with single-match semifinals and a final, though FIFA has not endorsed any format.
- With the World Cup opening June 11, FIFA’s 30-day withdrawal penalty makes May 12 a practical deadline for any decision on a substitute team.