Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy to President Donald Trump, has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, framing the move as a gesture to repair relations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Italy famously failed to qualify for the tournament, and the situation has been described as upsetting not only for Italian football fans and families, but also for a generation of kids who have never seen Italy compete at a World Cup. The proposal comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s participation.
Trump himself posted on Truth Social that while Iran’s national team is “welcome” at the World Cup, he questioned whether it would be “appropriate” for them to be there given the current conflict. When pressed further by journalists, Trump said he “really doesn’t care” about whether Iran participates in the tournament.
Despite the diplomatic pressure, FIFA has stood firm. FIFA President Gianni Infantino who maintains a close relationship with Trump confirmed that the U.S. president had “reiterated” to him that Iran’s team is welcome to compete, and stated plainly that Iran “for sure” will play in the World Cup.
The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the bulk of matches scheduled to be played on American soil.
