U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports suggesting Washington intends to exclude Iran from the 2026 World Cup and replace it with Italy.

Rubio said the United States does not oppose the participation of Iranian players and has taken no steps to block their entry.

He clarified that the issue is not related to athletes, while noting that individuals linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard would not be allowed into the country.

The remarks follow media reports about a proposal to replace Iran with Italy in the tournament.