A special envoy to former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup, a proposal that FIFA has swiftly dismissed. According to the Financial Times, U.S. envoy Paolo Zampolli described it as a “dream” to see four-time champions Italy compete in the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Italy's Absence and the Proposal
Italy failed to qualify after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their playoff final, marking their third consecutive absence from the World Cup. Zampolli said he communicated the suggestion to both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing Italy's football pedigree as justification. The report also suggests the proposal may be linked to easing tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Iran's Participation Under Scrutiny
Iran's participation has faced scrutiny amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including conflicts involving the United States and Israel. The Iranian football federation had earlier explored relocating its matches from the U.S. to Mexico. However, Infantino has maintained that Iran will participate as scheduled, in line with the official draw, effectively ruling out any late inclusion of Italy.
FIFA's stance remains firm, emphasizing that the tournament's qualification process and draw are final. The idea of swapping Italy for Iran has been dismissed, ensuring Iran's place in the 2026 World Cup.
