A US envoy has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup this summer, despite Italy’s failure to qualify.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli said he made the request as it would be a “dream” to see four-time World Cup winners Italy at the final tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup,” Zampolli told the FT.
“I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” he added.
Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been thrown into doubt by the war that broke out on 28 February.
FIFA declined to comment on Zampolli’s request, referring instead to Infantino’s statement that the Iranian team will be participating “for sure”.
“We hope that by then the situation will be … peaceful. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come if they are to represent their people,” Infantino said last week.
“They have qualified, and they’re actually quite a good team as well. They really want to play, and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics.”
While attending Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey last month, Infantino stated that Iran will be at the World Cup and that they will play “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.”
The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) had said in April it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.
On Wednesday, an Iranian government spokesperson said the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the US.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the US, by the order of the minister,” government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told state TV.
The team is due to arrive at its training camp in Arizona no later than 10 June, at least five days before its first game, as required by FIFA’s World Cup rules.
Zampolli is an Italian-American socialite, businessman and former modelling agent who claims to have introduced Trump to his wife Melania.
Neither the White House, nor Italian or Iranian football federations have responded to requests for comment.
Can Italy replace Iran in the tournament?
The answer is yes and no.
Under FIFA rules, the governing body has “sole discretion” over selecting a replacement team in the event of a withdrawal or exclusion.
If Iran, which qualified for the World Cup on merit, were to withdraw, that would create another issue, with FIFA ideally aiming to replace them with another team from Asia to maintain the continental balance.
One option would be to replace Iran with the top-ranking national team that failed to qualify. According to the current official standings, this would be the 12th-ranked Italy.
The suggestion was reportedly part of an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the US president called her “unacceptable” and lacking “courage” for not being supportive of the Iran war.
The unexpected public rift between the two leaders, who cultivated one of the closest transatlantic relationships over the past year, erupted after Trump criticised the pontiff for his anti-war stance on Iran.
“I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” Trump told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera last Tuesday.
Meloni defended the Holy Father of the Catholic Church, calling Trump’s criticism of the pope “unacceptable”.
“The pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn all forms of war,” Meloni said.
She added she would not feel comfortable living in a society where “religious leaders do as they are told by politicians.”
Trump pushed back, telling the Italian daily, “She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.”
Trump previously called Meloni “one of the real leaders of the world” and “full of energy, fantastic”, while Meloni said she was able to speak to him “frankly even when we disagree.”