Italy underwhelmed by Donald Trump envoy’s suggestion they should replace Iran at World Cup

WASHINGTON – The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at the 2026 World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans on April 23.

Mr Donald Trump’s US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the US President and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“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,” said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Mr Trump’s envoy for “global partnership” but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.

The plan seems to be an effort to repair ties between Mr Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after they fell out amid the American leader’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

Italy’s main sports news websites have given the story only a passing reference.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency LaPresse: “Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate... You qualify on the pitch.”

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went further, saying the idea was “shameful”.

Gianni de Biasi, who has coached in the Italian and Spanish top flight and led Albania to their first major tournament at Euro 2016, told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.

“Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn’t need Trump’s support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own,” he said.

Football’s world governing body FIFA responded by pointing to Infantino’s previous comments on Iran’s participation.

“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” he said last week. “Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics.”

The White House, Italian Football Federation and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

There is no suggestion that Iran will withdraw or be banned from the World Cup, which Italy missed out on after losing a play-off for the third consecutive time.

Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup in 2025 but, after the start of the war, requested that FIFA move the team’s three group matches from the US to Mexico – which was rejected.

Iran is seemingly proceeding as planned.

“We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities,” Iran’s football federation president Mehdi Taj said at a pro-government rally in Tehran on April 22.

“For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for the World Cup.”

Four years ago, Zampolli, when he was a United Nations ambassador, wrote to Infantino saying that “the world is demanding” that he disqualify Iran because of the country’s poor human rights record and replace them with Italy.

The request was ignored as Iran took part and went out in the group stage, having lost to England and the US and beaten Wales.

In the seemingly unlikely scenario of Iran being excluded from the tournament, the decision on who would replace them lies in the hands of FIFA, which under Article Six of the World Cup regulations is at liberty to call up any nation it chooses to fill the vacancy.

The AFC would be expected to lobby hard for the replacement to come from Asia with the United Arab Emirates, who lost a qualifying play-off to Iraq last November, the obvious choice.

The World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, gets under way on June 11 with Iran scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later. REUTERS