"I can confirm that I have proposed to (President Donald) Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Iran be replaced with Italy," Zampolli told the Financial Times earlier on Thursday.
But, according to Rubio, the US has in no way said "they can't come."
"The problem with Iran would not be their athletes. It would be other people they want to bring with them," he says, referring, according to the AP, to people loyal to Iranian militant groups who are masquerading as journalists and coaches.
