Trump's envoy has called on FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup. How FIFA and Tehran are responding to the unusual request
Paolo Zampolli, the representative of the US president, claimed that the four world championship titles won by Italy throughout the history of the tournament justifies its presence in the final tournament, writes the Financial Times.
A senior representative of President Donald Trump has urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup amid tense negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Paolo Zampolli, who also recently visited Romania, proposed this change to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump, as the leader of the country that is co-hosting the tournament.
According to sources cited by the Financial Times, he claimed that Italy's four World Cup titles throughout the history of the tournament justified their presence at the final tournament.
The plan is an apparent attempt to repair relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the US president's attacks on Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, according to people familiar with the situation.
But Iran issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was ready for the tournament and intended to participate.
What Zampolli says
Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Italy's defeat in a crucial play-off match against Bosnia and Herzegovina sparked a wave of domestic political protests, forcing the head of the Italian Football Federation to resign.
Zampolli admitted to the Financial Times that he circulated this proposal.
“I can confirm that I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I am of Italian descent and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a tournament hosted by the USA. With four titles, they have the necessary record to justify inclusion,” Zampolli told.
Infantino previously said FIFA would come to the tournament
Iran announced in a first phase, after the attacks launched by the USA and Israel, that it would no longer want to participate in the tournament. The country's football federation also discussed the possibility of moving its matches to Canada or Mexico, an idea that was rejected by FIFA.
Trump said Iranian soccer players were “welcome” to the U.S., but added it would be inappropriate and potentially dangerous for them.
FIFA declined to comment on the lobbying efforts, but referred to recent statements by Infantino.
“The Iranian team will come, for sure,” the FIFA president told a news conference in Washington last week.
“Hopefully, until then, of course, the situation will be peaceful. That would certainly help. But Iran have to come if they want to represent their people. They have qualified… They really want to play and they should play,” he said.
FIFA regulations give the governing body “sole discretion” to decide what action to take should Iran withdraw. “FIFA may decide to replace the participating member association in question with another association,” the regulation said.
The cooling of the Trump-Meloni relationship
Meloni has been one of Trump's allies, repeatedly refraining from criticizing him, including during the crisis sparked by his stated desire to annex Greenland.
But Trump publicly criticized Meloni last week after she was forced to condemn his attack on Pope Leo as “unacceptable”.
In various media interviews in the following days, Trump complained about Rome's refusal to allow US fighter jets involved in the bombing of Iran to use a US military base in Sicily for refueling.
Trump said he was “shocked” by Meloni's lack of cooperation in the campaign against Iran, saying: “I thought he had guts, but I was wrong.”
Italians oppose the war, which is driving up the prices of fuel, fruit and vegetables, and other goods.
Many are suspicious of Trump, and analysts say Meloni's earlier efforts to placate and defend him were becoming a growing political problem domestically.
