Trump Envoy Pushes FIFA to Replace Iran with Italy at World Cup

Reports indicate that an official close to the Donald Trump administration has been in consultation with the President of FIFA regarding the possibility of replacing the Islamic Republic’s national football team with Italy’s in the upcoming World Cup.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy for Donald Trump, has proposed that Italy take the place of the Islamic Republic’s team in the upcoming tournament. Zampolli reportedly raised the issue in discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as well as with Donald Trump, arguing that Italy’s record of four World Cup titles could justify granting them a spot.

However, some informed sources have noted that this proposal or initiative “does not necessarily reflect official White House policy” and may be more of a personal effort by Zampolli to influence sports diplomacy or a media maneuver. This is particularly notable given simultaneous reports of tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In recent days, Trump has publicly criticized Meloni, expressing dissatisfaction with Rome’s lack of cooperation in supporting U.S. military operations against Iran. He stated that he was “shocked” that Italy did not permit the use of a military base in Sicily for refueling U.S. fighter jets, adding, “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.” In such a climate, the suggestion of replacing the Islamic Republic’s team with Italy may be viewed less as a sports decision and more as part of the complex political equations between Washington, Rome, and Tehran.

This is not the first time such a scenario has been proposed. In 2022, during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests following the state-sponsored killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in morality police custody, rumors circulated regarding the possibility of disqualifying the Islamic Republic’s team and replacing it with Italy. At the time, Gianni Infantino responded to such speculation in his first press conference by saying, “Please don’t tell jokes and ask serious questions.”

Despite that stance, critics argue that in recent years, FIFA has repeatedly ignored the principle of separating sports from politics, as well as human rights considerations, and has maintained close ties with the Islamic Republic’s Football Federation. The continuation of this approach, especially under current international and political pressure, has once again called into question the global body’s role in addressing crises that extend beyond football.