Italian government officials have rebuked a proposal to send the national football team to the 2026 World Cup as a replacement for Iran, according to aljazeera.com.
The suggestion surfaced following speculation regarding Iran's participation in the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Since the onset of the conflict between the US and Iran on February 28, Iran's presence at the finals has been uncertain because its group-stage matches are scheduled for US venues.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American US envoy for global relations, proposed that Italy should replace Iran, according to the report. Zampolli told the Financial Times that he presented the idea to both US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“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,” Zampolli said, aljazeera.com reported.
Political backlash in Rome
Italian authorities quickly dismissed the idea as improper. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti described the concept as “shameful,” while Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated, “it is not appropriate… You qualify on the pitch.”
Italian Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio also voiced his disapproval. “First of all, I don’t think it is possible,” Buonfiglio said. “Second, I’d feel offended. In order to go to the World Cup, you have to earn it.”
Former coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters that any vacancy left by Iran should logically be filled by the next team in the qualifying rankings. He added, “I believe Italy doesn’t need Trump’s support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own.”
While the proposal was linked to efforts to repair ties between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the outlet reported that the suggestion did not officially originate from the Trump administration.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has maintained a different stance regarding Iran's status. Speaking at the CNBC Invest in America Forum, Infantino said, “The Iranian team is coming, for him sure... They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics.”
Iran's government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, stated on Wednesday that the Ministry of Sports and Youth has ensured all necessary arrangements for the team's participation are in place.
Currently, Iran has requested that FIFA move its three group matches from the US to Mexico, a request that was rejected. Iranian football federation President Mehdi Taj told reporters in Tehran that the team is proceeding with preparations according to official decisions.
If Iran were excluded, FIFA holds the authority under Article Six of the World Cup regulations to select any nation. The Asian Football Confederation would likely lobby for a replacement from within Asia, with the United Arab Emirates noted as a potential candidate.
