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Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LONDON — An envoy to Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup despite Italy's failure to qualify, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli said he made the request as it would be a "dream" to see four-time World Cup winners Italy at the final tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup.
I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,”Zampolli told the FT.
Zampolli is an Italian-American socialite, businessman and former modelling agent who claims to have introduced Trump to his wife Melania.
The suggestion was reportedly part of an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in succession after a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.
The FT reported that Iran issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was prepared for the tournament and planned to participate.
Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.
FIFA declined to comment on Zampolli's request, referring instead to Infantino's statement that the Iranian team will be participating "for sure".
"We hope that by then the situation will be ... peaceful. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come if they are to represent their people," Infantino said last week.
"They have qualified, and they're actually quite a good team as well. They really want to play, and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics."
While attending Iran's friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey last month, Infantino stated that Iran will be at the World Cup and that they will play "where they are supposed to be, according to the draw."
The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) said in April it was "negotiating" with FIFA to relocate the country's World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.
On Wednesday, an Iranian government spokesperson said the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the US.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the US, by the order of the minister,” government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told state TV.
The team is due to arrive at its training camp in Arizona no later than 10 June, at least five days before its first game, as required by FIFA’s World Cup rules.
Under FIFA rules, the governing body has "sole discretion" over selecting a replacement team in the event of a withdrawal or exclusion.
If Iran, which qualified for the World Cup on merit, were to withdraw, that would create another issue, with FIFA ideally aiming to replace them with another team from Asia to maintain the continental balance. — Agencies
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