On April 23, 2026, Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, confirmed he had proposed to both the president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Zampolli stated: “I can confirm that I suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy should replace Iran at the World Cup.”
Zampolli, who identifies as being of Italian descent, described the idea as “a dream” for him, noting that Italy’s four World Cup titles give them the reputation to justify inclusion in the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The proposal comes after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing in the playoff semifinal to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2026 via a penalty shootout. This would mark Italy’s third consecutive absence from the men’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, Iran’s participation has been under scrutiny due to regional conflicts involving Israel and the United States. Despite this, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly affirmed Iran’s place in the tournament, stating on CNBC’s Invest in America Forum: “The Iranian team will definitely participate.” Iranian Football Federation chief Mehdi Taj also expressed confidence, saying: “As of now, we are taking part.”
According to the Financial Times report, the motivation behind Zampolli’s proposal appears to be an effort to mend the strained relationship between President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders have exchanged public criticisms following Trump’s verbal attacks on Pope Leo XIV, which Meloni condemned, prompting Trump to direct similar criticism toward her.
As of the report, neither the U.S. Government nor FIFA had issued an official response to the proposal. Similarly, no statements had been released by the Italian or Iranian football federations regarding the idea.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to start in June across host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring an expanded 48-team format for the first time in tournament history.
Archysport will continue to monitor official channels for any updates on team participation and will report confirmed developments as they emerge.
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