Officials in Italy, adamant about the idea of Donald Trump's close friend: “I would feel offended”
Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6:08 p.m. / Updated Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6:13 p.m.
The suggestion of one presence of the Italian national team at the World Championship instead of Iran it was promptly rejected by both the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, and the Minister of Sports, Andrea Abodi, who considers the idea “inappropriate”.
- The final tour will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Donald Trump's emissary Paolo Zampolli has proposed to the US president and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to replace Iran with Italy at this summer's World Cup. But officials on the peninsula flatly rejected the idea from the man Trump named special envoy for global partnerships in March.
The Italians don't think they deserve WC 2026
At an event in Rome, Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, was categorical in excluding this hypothesis.
“First of all, I don't think it's possible. Second, I'd be offended. You have to deserve to go to the World Championship.”stated the president of CONI, quoted by abola.pt.
Luciano Buonfiglio // PHOTO: Guliver/GettyImages
On the same note, the Minister of Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi, reinforced the position, stressing that qualification must be won on the field. “Italy to replace Iran at the World Cup? It is not appropriate! Qualification is won on the field”he declared.
Iran are in a group with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt at the World Cup, and will play in the USA at SoFi Stadium and Lumen Field. In March, Iran announced that it would not participate in the World Cup, then requested that the national team play its matches only in Mexico and Canada, but FIFA refused. In mid-April, the Iranians announced that they would participate in the WC.
Italy missed out on WC 2026 after being knocked out in the play-off final by Bosnia. After 120 minutes, the score was equal, 1-1, and the Bosnians qualified for the penalty kicks.
