Italian sports officials have firmly dismissed the idea of replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup in North America, following a suggestion by a Trump administration official. The proposal, which was reported by the Financial Times, came from U.S. special envoy for global partnerships Paolo Zampolli, who suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Italian Officials Reject Proposal
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated, “First of all it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.” The president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Luciano Buonfiglio, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I would feel offended. You need to deserve to go to the World Cup.” Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.”
Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup and is preparing to play in the United States despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East. FIFA has insisted that Iran's group-stage games near Los Angeles and in Seattle will proceed as scheduled in June.
Zampolli's Background and Remarks
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian native, has long been associated with the Trump family. He introduced Melania Knauss to Donald Trump in 1998 and was appointed special envoy for global partnerships last year. He told the Financial Times, “I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
In March, the New York Times reported that Zampolli had contacted a top Immigration and Customs Enforcement official regarding the mother of his child, who was in the country illegally amid a custody dispute. She was subsequently deported.
Iran's Response
The Iranian embassy in Rome denounced Zampolli's remarks, stating on X: “Football belongs to the people, not to politicians. 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.”
Iran earned one of eight guaranteed World Cup places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. Should Iran withdraw, the replacement would theoretically be the United Arab Emirates, the highest-ranked Asian team that did not qualify. FIFA's tournament rules allow it to replace a withdrawn team with another association, without specifying that the replacement must come from the same confederation.
The White House and FIFA have not commented on the matter. Iran's participation has been debated since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on the country in February. Trump discouraged Iran from participating in March, citing safety concerns, but FIFA has consistently stated that Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule.
