There is still a chance that Italy could play at the World Cup 2022

After losing to

1-0 in the semifinals of the playoffs in March, the Azzurri missed the

World Cup

for the second year in a row. But

Franco Chimenti

, who is the president of the Italian Golf Federation and used to be on the CONI committee, thinks there is a real chance that the Azzurri will play in

in November.

"Italy could still go to the World Cup, and it's more likely than people think," he told GR Parlamento, as reported by

La Repubblica

. "It looks like Ecuador used a player who wasn't supposed to be on the field, and they might have to pay for it.

"If that happens, another country should take their place, and the rules of FIFA say that the highest-ranked country should be called back. At the moment, that's Italy."

Last week, FIFA said they were officially looking into the Chilean FA's claim that Ecuador lied on Byron Castillo's documents. Castillo played in eight qualifying games. Two of them were against Chile, which didn't make it to the World Cup, and

got four points from those games.

La Repubblica says that FIFA could decide one of two things. Ecuador could lose the points they earned in games where Castillo played, which would let Chile finish ahead of them in the qualification group.

But the other choice is to keep Ecuador out of the World Cup and let another country in. The Azzurri, who are currently the best team in the FIFA rankings, would have a chance in this situation.

It's important to note that FIFA President Gianni Infantino downplayed rumors that Italy could be brought back for the 2022 World Cup. "Please, don't joke around," he told reporters on his last trip to Florence.

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