An emissary of US President Donald Trump contacted FIFA to ask them to exclude Iran and invite Italy in their place for the 2026 World Cup, according to the Financial Times.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT on Wednesday that it would be a "dream" to see the four-time world champions Italy take to the pitches of the World Cup being held in the United States , Mexico and Canada — despite the Squadra Azzurra 's elimination in the qualifying playoffs last month.
The Iranian embassy in Rome reacted strongly, believing that this proposal revealed the "moral bankruptcy" of the United States, and recalling that Italy did not need "political special treatment" to prove its worth in world football.
This move is seen as an attempt to mend fences between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , after the latter fell out with the US president by criticizing his attacks on Pope Leo XIV over the war against Iran, reports the FT.
"I confirm that I suggested to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I am Italian by birth, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament organized in the United States. With four stars to their name, they are more than qualified to justify their participation ," said Zampolli.
Italy does indeed have four world titles to its name, but it missed out on qualifying for a third consecutive finals, eliminated on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final.
"Italy forged its legend on the field, not through political favors ," the Iranian embassy retorted on X. "This attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only reveals the 'moral bankruptcy' of the United States, which trembles at the thought of seeing eleven young Iranians enter the game."
Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup is indeed suspended following the conflict with the United States and Israel, which began on February 28. The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) indicated in April that it was in negotiations with FIFA to have Iran's matches relocated from the United States to Mexico.
But Infantino told AFP last month, on the sidelines of a friendly match between Iran and Costa Rica in Turkey, that Iran would indeed be at the 2026 World Cup and would play "wherever the draw places them ." The FIFA president reaffirmed this position in Washington last week.
When contacted by AFP on Thursday regarding Zampolli's proposal, FIFA simply referred to Infantino's recent statements.
This isn't the first time Zampolli has tried this tactic: in 2022, he had already suggested to FIFA that Iran be replaced by Italy at the World Cup in Qatar , due to Tehran's crackdown on protesters. His proposal was not accepted at the time.
Paolo Zampolli is an Italian-American businessman and socialite, founder of a modeling agency. He claims to have introduced Donald Trump to his now-wife, Melania.
