US Official Proposes Replacing Iran with Italy in 2026 World Cup
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just 49 days away, a senior United States representative has made a surprising proposal to replace Iran with Italy in the tournament lineup. According to reports from the Financial Times, Paolo Zampolli, an American official of Italian descent, has formally suggested to both President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that the Azzurri should capture Iran’s place in the summer competition.
Zampolli, who was born in Italy, told the Financial Times that he believes Italy’s strong football pedigree—boasting four World Cup titles—justifies their inclusion in what would be a tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “It would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament organized in the US,” he stated, emphasizing his personal connection to the country.
The proposal appears to be part of a broader effort to improve diplomatic relations between the United States and Italy, which have reportedly cooled due to recent tensions. Reports indicate that Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV over the Iran situation, combined with Italy’s stance in the ongoing conflict, has strained relations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been one of Trump’s closest European allies.
This development comes just days after Infantino assured that Iran would participate safely in the World Cup, stating that he hoped the situation would remain peaceful by the time of the tournament. Iran had previously requested to play its matches in Mexico, a request that was denied by FIFA.
Italy’s absence from the World Cup would mark the third consecutive tournament they have missed, following their elimination by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff round for the 2022 edition in Qatar. The Azzurri have not qualified for the World Cup since their victory in 2006.
As of now, there has been no official response from FIFA regarding the proposal, and it remains unclear whether such a change to the qualified teams is procedurally possible under current regulations.
The 2026 World Cup is set to start on June 11, 2026, with matches hosted across 16 cities in the three host nations.
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