With just under two months to go before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, a proposal from within former U.S. President Donald Trump's circle has stirred a fresh controversy in international soccer.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American businessman and special envoy from the White House, claimed to have proposed to FIFA the replacement of Iran's national team with Italy in the upcoming World Cup. This idea has been met with opposition in both sports and political circles.
Political Underpinnings of the Proposal
According to a report by the Financial Times, this unprecedented proposal involves excluding a team already qualified due to geopolitical reasons and allowing entry for another that did not earn its spot on the field.
Zampolli openly acknowledged his suggestion: "I confirm that I have proposed to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy should replace Iran in the World Cup. As a native Italian, seeing the Azzurri in a tournament hosted by the United States would be a dream. With four titles, they have the credentials to justify their inclusion," he stated.
The plan seemingly has political motivations beyond sports. The Financial Times also suggests the proposal aims to mend strained relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after recent disagreements over the conflict with Iran and Trump's comments about Pope Leo XIV. In this diplomatic chess game, soccer appears as a symbolic tool.
FIFA's Reaction and Italy's Disapproval
The institutional response came swiftly. Although FIFA refrained from directly commenting on Zampolli's suggestion, sources within the organization have made it clear that such a scenario is not feasible.
The rules dictate that if a team withdraws or is excluded, any replacement must come from the same confederation. For Iran, this means another Asian team would be considered, not a European one like Italy. Moreover, Infantino has recently reiterated that Iran's participation remains intact: "Iran's team will be there, without a doubt."
In Italy, the proposal was also poorly received. Rather than being celebrated as a possible "second chance," it was viewed as an inappropriate initiative. "I read that Trump's envoy wants to readmit Italy to the World Cup: I find it shameful. I would be embarrassed," remarked Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti. Similarly, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi emphasized: "First, it's not possible, and second, it's not appropriate. Qualification is achieved on the field."
Iran's Participation Amidst Conflict
Iran secured its place in the 2026 World Cup following a strong performance in the Asian Confederation. The official schedule has them playing their Group G matches in the United States, with games set in Los Angeles and Seattle against opponents like Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.
However, the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel has complicated matters. Officials in Tehran have indicated that playing on U.S. soil is not feasible under current conditions, even requesting FIFA to relocate their matches to Mexico, a request that was denied.
Despite these challenges, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been clear about the organization's stance: "They must be there. They represent their people, they've qualified, and the players want to compete."
Italy's Absence Continues
Italy's national team, one of the most decorated in history with four World Cup titles (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), failed to qualify for the 2026 event after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout during the European playoffs. This marks the third consecutive absence of the Azzurri from the World Cup, triggering a significant sports crisis in the country.
Despite their historical stature, FIFA's regulations do not allow direct invitations based on past achievements, further undermining the feasibility of Zampolli's proposal.
Can FIFA Replace a Team?
The tournament's regulations do provide FIFA with the discretion to act if a team withdraws or is excluded. According to their rules, the organization has "complete discretion" on how to proceed, including naming a substitute. However, in practice, such decisions adhere to sporting and confederation criteria, making political or diplomatic replacements highly unlikely.
Moreover, this topic is not on the agenda for the upcoming FIFA Congress, set to be held in Vancouver, where all 211 national federations will convene.
Sports and Politics: An Ongoing Debate
The proposal from Trump's envoy has rekindled a long-standing debate: the role of sports amidst international conflicts. Infantino has emphasized that soccer should serve as a bridge between nations, even during periods of tension. "Sports should be above politics. That said, we don't live on the moon... if no one else believes in building bridges, we will," he recently stated.
As it stands, the 2026 World Cup is expected to proceed as planned, with Iran competing in Group G. The suggestion to replace them with Italy, despite its media impact, seems destined to remain another episode at the intersection of geopolitics and sports.
Understanding FIFA's Team Replacement Policies
Can FIFA replace a qualified team for political reasons?
FIFA's regulations allow for team replacement if a team withdraws or is excluded, but such decisions are typically based on sporting and confederation criteria, not political reasons.
Why was Italy's proposal to replace Iran rejected?
The proposal was rejected because FIFA regulations require that replacements come from the same confederation. Iran's replacement would need to be another Asian team, not a European one like Italy.