Morocco’s preparations for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup may have received an unexpected boost following injury concerns surrounding Brazil defender Eder Militão.

The Atlas Lions are scheduled to face the five-time world champions, Brazil’s national football team, at MetLife Stadium on June 13, but uncertainty now surrounds one of Brazil’s key defensive figures.

Militão, who plays for Real Madrid, is at serious risk of missing the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury during his club’s recent victory over Alavés. The defender signalled to be substituted before halftime after feeling discomfort, and subsequent medical tests confirmed a muscle injury in his left leg.

Further reports indicate the problem could be a recurrence of a previous injury sustained in December, raising fears that surgery may be required — a development that would likely rule him out of the World Cup, which kicks off in less than 50 days.

The 28-year-old centre-back is now awaiting further assessment, with a final decision expected following additional examinations by Real Madrid’s medical team.

For Morocco, the potential absence of Militão could weaken Brazil’s defensive structure ahead of their Group stage clash. The North Africans, who impressed on the global stage in recent tournaments, will be keen to capitalise on any vulnerability as they aim for a strong start against one of football’s traditional powerhouses.

Militão’s injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Brazilian defender, who has struggled with fitness issues in recent seasons, including consecutive anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

While Brazil remain formidable opponents, Morocco’s camp will be monitoring developments closely as they fine-tune preparations for what promises to be a high-profile opener.

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A suggestion by a former envoy to Donald Trump that Italy should replace Iran at the upcoming FIFA World Cup has drawn swift criticism from Italian officials, who insist that qualification must be earned on merit.

Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American businessman who previously served as a global relations envoy, said he had raised the idea with both Trump and Gianni Infantino. He argued that Italy’s four World Cup titles justify their inclusion, especially at a tournament hosted by the United States.

However, the proposal—widely dismissed in Italy—triggered embarrassment among fans and drew firm opposition from political and sporting authorities.

Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio rejected the idea outright, stressing that World Cup participation must be earned. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi echoed that position, while Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti described the suggestion as “shameful.”

Former Italy coach Gianni De Biasi also dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, noting that if any team were to withdraw, standard procedure would favour another qualified side rather than Italy. He added that Italy does not need political backing to secure a place at the tournament.

A more cautious view came from David Aganzo, who acknowledged that qualification should be based on sporting merit but suggested there could be complexities not yet publicly known.

FIFA has not indicate that Iran’s place is in doubt. Infantino recently reaffirmed that Iran will participate, emphasising that football should remain separate from politics.

No Indication Iran Will Be Replaced

There is currently no sign that the Iran Football Federation will withdraw or be excluded. Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed that preparations for the tournament are ongoing, although he noted the team would comply with any decisions by national authorities.

Iran secured qualification for a fourth consecutive World Cup, while Italy will miss a third straight edition after failing in the playoffs.

The proposal also echoes a similar attempt by Zampolli ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, when he urged FIFA to exclude Iran over human rights concerns—an appeal that was ultimately ignored.

Under FIFA regulations, the governing body has discretion to select a replacement team if necessary, though such a scenario remains highly unlikely. Should it arise, the Asian Football Confederation would be expected to push for another Asian nation to take Iran’s place.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with Iran scheduled to open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles.

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Marco Rubio has said the United States has no objection to Iranian players competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but warned that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will not be allowed entry.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio stressed that Washington’s position is to protect athletes while maintaining national security restrictions.

“Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come,” Rubio said, referring to Iran’s participation in the tournament.

Donald Trump also echoed that stance, saying his administration “would not want to affect the athletes,” in remarks at the White House.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to kick off on June 11, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

However, Rubio drew a firm line regarding non-playing personnel.

“The problem with Iran 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,” he said.

He added: “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” noting that Washington has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The comments come amid earlier controversy sparked by Paolo Zampolli, who suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament—a proposal that drew criticism and has no official backing.

There has been no indication that Iran will withdraw from the competition or face a ban. Iran had previously requested that its group-stage matches be moved from the United States to Mexico following the outbreak of hostilities, but that request was rejected by FIFA.

Tensions remain high after the escalation of conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran earlier this year. A fragile ceasefire has been in place for just over two weeks following a series of strikes and counter-strikes that resulted in significant casualties and displacement across the region.

Despite the geopolitical backdrop, U.S. officials insist the tournament will proceed with athletes at its centre, even as security considerations shape participation off the pitch.

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