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An envoy for President Donald Trump has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup scheduled for this summer.
The Financial Times reported that the plan is an effort to repair the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after the former’s comments against Pope Leo XIV over the war with Iran.
The United States special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, was the one who suggested the idea to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
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President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the official drawing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA)
“I confirm that I suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am a native of Italy and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament organized in the United States,” Zampolli told the outlet. “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify their inclusion.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Pak Gazette Digital.
Italy already had a chance to be in the World Cup, but suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final of the qualifying round.
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Italy became the first World Cup-winning team to miss three consecutive tournaments following a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat earlier this month.
“We still don’t believe it, that we are out and that it happened this way,” Italian Leonardo Spinazzola told reporters at the time, according to the New York Post. “It is disturbing for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the children who have never seen Italy in a World Cup.”
As Zampolli spoke to Infantino about his proposed plan, the FIFA president stated that Iran will “certainly” play in the World Cup despite the conflict involving the United States.
Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers Group A match against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on March 25, 2025. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
“The Iranian team will come, for sure,” Infantino said during CNBC’s Invest in America Forum earlier this month in Washington, DC.
“We hope that, of course, by then the situation will be peaceful. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Infantino visited the Iranian team in Türkiye, where they have their training camp.
All three of Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled to be played in the U.S. That remains the case after Iranian government officials suggested to FIFA that their games be moved to Mexico because they could not travel to the U.S.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and insists that Iran play where it is scheduled: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran said earlier this month that it would only decide on its team’s participation once it heard from FIFA of its relocation request.
Iran is scheduled to play at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand on June 16 to begin their tournament. They will also play Belgium at the stadium before finishing the group match against Mo Salah and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an international friendly between Mexico and Portugal at the Banorte Stadium in Mexico City on March 28, 2026. (Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)
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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 conflict.
“The Iranian national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t think it is appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety,” he wrote.
Trump also told Politico, “I don’t really care,” when asked about Iran’s participation in the tournament. Infantino, who maintains a strong relationship with Trump, said Trump has “reiterated” to him that the United States welcomes Iran’s team to compete.
