Replacing Iran at 2026 World Cup would be 'humiliating'

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Players of Italy show their dejection of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Italy legend Fulvio Collovati insists that seeing the Azzurri replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup would be ‘humiliating.’

Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, but there are reports that the Azzurri could still be heading to the tournament to replace Iran, especially after Paolo Zampolli’s recent claims.

BERLIN - JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) — BERLIN – JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“Some people pushed these ideas more on a political level than a sporting one. Honestly, I never even considered them,” Collovati told Scommesse.io.

Collovati: ‘Humiliating’ to see Italy at World Cup

“It would be humiliating from a sporting perspective. In sport, what matters is the field and the result. You can’t get there through shortcuts. Italy have not qualified for the last three World Cups, and that’s no coincidence. It can happen once, even twice, but the third time means there are serious problems. Before those three missed qualifications, we had been knocked out in the first round twice in a row. It’s a crisis that has lasted for 20 years, since 2006. Before thinking about being admitted to the World Cup, we need to think about reforms.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) — ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

“You can change all the people you want, but without reforms, nothing will change,” continued the 1982 Italy World Cup winner.

“We need to intervene in youth development, invest in young players, and require clubs to include them in the squads and actually play them in Serie A. Otherwise, we’ll keep standing still in the same place.”