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As much as Italy would like to be in this year’s World Cup, it won’t be at Iran’s expense.
An envoy of the president donald trump He has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in North America this summer. However, Italian sports officials rejected that idea, saying it was “not appropriate.”
“Firstly, it is not possible. Secondly, it is not a good idea,” Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said on Thursday.
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Moise Kean of Italy celebrates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers playoff match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (Image Photography Agency/Getty Images)
“Classification is done on the field.”
Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also ruled out the idea of taking Iran’s place.
“I would be offended,” Buonfiglio said. “You have to deserve to go to the World Cup.”
Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.”
While Iran was among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup, Italy missed out for the third consecutive tournament, prompting the resignations of its national team coach and the president of the football federation.
Iran’s national football team celebrated qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on March 25, 2025. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
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The Financial Times reported that Trump’s envoy’s plan to replace Iran is an effort to repair the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after the former’s comments against it. Pope Leo XIV regarding the war with Iran.
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month that Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup as scheduled, although it might not be “appropriate” considering the ongoing conflict.
Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup (the team is preparing to play in the United States despite the war in the Middle East) and FIFA has insisted that its group matches near Los Angeles and Seattle go ahead as planned in June.
FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule starting in December and refused to negotiate any suggestion of moving the team’s matches to co-host Mexico.
President Donald Trump speaks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
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