NEW YORK, April 23 — A top envoy to United States President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported yesterday.
The plan is reportedly an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the US president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. 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,” US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.
The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row following a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.
Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but, after the start of the war, requested that FIFA move the team’s three group matches from the United States to Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said during a visit to an Iran squad training camp in Turkey last month that all matches would take place as scheduled, while offering the team help with preparations for the tournament.
“We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities,” Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran yesterday.
“For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for the World Cup.”
The decision on which country would replace Iran in the event of a withdrawal lies with FIFA, which under Article Six of the World Cup regulations is permitted to call up any nation it chooses to fill a vacancy.
The AFC would be expected to lobby for an Asian replacement, with the United Arab Emirates — who lost a qualifying playoff to Iraq last November — seen as a possible option.
However, the UAE have far less football pedigree than Italy, having appeared at only one World Cup in 1990, when they lost all three matches.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with Iran scheduled to open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.
