The government of Italy has criticised a proposal from a United States (US) government official suggesting that the Iranian team be replaced by Italy in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Despite being a four-time champion, the Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament.
Officials in Italian sports have also stated that four-time champion Italy is not interested in taking Iran’s place at the upcoming World Cup in 2026, following a suggestion made by an official from the Trump administration.
Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup and is preparing to compete in the US despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. FIFA has confirmed that its group stage matches near Los Angeles and in Seattle will proceed as scheduled in June.
Paolo Zampolli, a US special envoy, informed the Financial Times that he had proposed the idea of four-time winners Italy stepping in to both Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli stressed that “my request is not a political request.” The proposal, made to Trump and Infantino on Wednesday, was intended as a contingency plan should Iran be unable to participate in the soccer tournament at the last moment.
Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which governs all sports in Italy, also rejected the notion of substituting for Iran.
“I would feel offended,” Buonfiglio remarked. “You need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”
Italy’s Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.”
The Iranian embassy in Rome, Italy further denounced Zampolli’s comments in a statement on the social media platform, X.
“Football belongs to the people, not to politicians,” the embassy stated.
“Italy earned its soccer prowess on the field, not thanks to political maneuvers. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup shows only the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which fears even the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play.”
