Trump Envoy Urges FIFA To Replace Iran With Italy At 2026 World Cup, Report Says

Trump Envoy Urges FIFA To Replace Iran With Italy At 2026 World Cup, Report Says

Trump envoy Zampolli has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy if Iran withdraws from the 2026 World Cup, FT reports.

A senior envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to consider replacing Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup if Tehran withdraws from the tournament, according to a Financial Times report published Wednesday.

The proposal was reportedly made by U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli, who told the newspaper he had suggested the move to Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Zampolli said including Italy in the U.S.-hosted tournament would be a “dream” and cited the four-time champions’ football pedigree.

FIFA regulations allow the governing body discretion to select a replacement nation if a qualified team withdraws. Iran, which secured qualification for a fourth straight World Cup, reportedly asked FIFA after the outbreak of war to move its three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico.

Infantino said during a visit to Iran’s training camp in Turkey last month that all scheduled matches would go ahead as planned, while offering support for the team’s preparations.

Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday the national team was continuing preparations but would follow any decisions made by authorities.

If Iran were to pull out, the Asian Football Confederation would be expected to push for another Asian nation to take the spot. The United Arab Emirates, who lost a qualifying playoff to Iraq last November, has been identified as a likely candidate.

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff shootout in March, marking a third consecutive missed tournament.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with Iran scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.