by InTrieste
Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy to Italy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, has proposed that FIFA replace Iran with Italy at this summer’s World Cup, according to remarks he confirmed to the Financial Times. The suggestion, which has no formal standing within FIFA procedures, comes amid broader political tensions involving Washington and Rome.
Zampolli said he had raised the idea with both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, describing it as a personal aspiration. “I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament,” he said, citing Italy’s four World Cup titles as justification for inclusion.
The proposal marks an unusual intersection of sport and diplomacy, particularly given that tournament qualification is governed by strict regulations. Iran secured its place through the established qualifying process, while Italy failed to qualify after being eliminated by Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Zampolli, an Italian-born entrepreneur with longstanding ties in New York’s business and social circles, has previously engaged with FIFA on similar grounds. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he reportedly wrote to Infantino suggesting that Italy take Iran’s place at that tournament as well.
The latest proposal has been interpreted by some as part of a broader political effort. According to the Financial Times, it may be aimed at easing tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following a public disagreement over comments Trump made about Pope Leo XIV in the context of the Iran conflict. Meloni had criticized those remarks as “unacceptable,” signaling a rare divergence between the two leaders.
A potential World Cup inclusion for Italy, one of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history, could be seen as a gesture toward Italian public opinion. However, FIFA has given no indication that such a move is under consideration.
Infantino addressed the issue earlier this month, stating that Iran’s participation is expected to proceed. “The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” he said at a forum in Washington. He added that the organization hoped for a peaceful geopolitical situation but emphasized that Iran had qualified and that its players intended to compete.
Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has suggested that participation will depend on security conditions, leaving open the possibility of withdrawal without confirming any decision.
Under FIFA regulations, the governing body retains the authority to act in exceptional circumstances, though such interventions are rare. Italy, currently among the highest-ranked teams not to have qualified, could theoretically be considered if a vacancy arose.
Some figures within international football have expressed reservations about such a scenario. Evelina Christillin, a former FIFA Council member, described the prospect of Italy entering the tournament as a replacement as “humiliating,” and suggested that other teams might present a more appropriate alternative given current global dynamics.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, with Iran set to play its opening match against New Zealand five days later in Los Angeles. With weeks remaining before kickoff, uncertainty persists over whether geopolitical developments could affect the final lineup, though no formal changes have been announced.
