The Financial Times reported that an envoy of US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to replace the Iranian national team with its Italian counterpart in the 2026 World Cup. The Iranian embassy in Rome responded with a statement in which it said that this proposal reflects what it described as the “moral bankruptcy” of the United States, stressing that Italy does not need “political privileges” to prove its football status and history.
Published on: 04/23/2026 - 16:58
An envoy of US President Donald Trump asked the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to replace the Iranian national team with the Italian national team in the 2026 World Cup, according to what the Financial Times reported.
The newspaper quoted Special Envoy Paolo Zampolli as saying that the participation of Italy, which has won the title four times, in the tournament that will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada represents a “dream,” despite its failure to qualify following its loss in the playoff last month.
According to the same source, this proposal falls within efforts to restore relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who witnessed tension after she criticized him over his attack on Pope Leo XIV in the context of the war with Iran.
On the other hand, the Iranian embassy in Rome considered in a statement that this proposal reflects what it described as the “moral bankruptcy” of the United States, stressing that Italy does not need political privileges to prove its history and status in football.
Zampoli explained to the newspaper, "I confirm that I proposed to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni Infantino) that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am Italian by origin, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament held in the United States. With four titles, the team has justification for its participation."
In 2022, after the previous failure of the Italian team in the same stage of the qualifiers, Zampolli had also proposed to the International Federation to exclude Iran due to what he described as violent security repression in the country, with the aim of providing the opportunity for the “Azzurri” to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar, but this proposal was not destined to succeed.
The world's top football body referred to the recent statements of its president, Gianni Infantino, without providing any additional comment.
In March, on the sidelines of Iran's friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey, Infantino confirmed that "Iran will be in the World Cup" and will play its matches in the United States as scheduled, stressing in later statements that "the Iranian national team has qualified, and the players want to play," expressing his hope that peace will prevail in the Middle East during the tournament period.
Italy failed to reach the finals for the third time in a row after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final.
The Iranian embassy added in a post on the “X” platform, “Italy gained its football greatness on the field, not thanks to political privileges.”
She continued, "The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only reveals the moral bankruptcy of the United States, which even fears the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field."
There are doubts about Iran's participation in the tournament against the backdrop of the war with the United States and Israel that broke out on February 28.
France 24/AFP
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