Trump Proposes Italy Replace Iran at World Cup; Italian Sports Minister Responds: "Qualification is Earned on the Field"

In a controversial development less than a month before the start of the 2026 World Cup, media reports revealed a surprising attempt to include the Italian national team in the tournament at the expense of Iran, despite the latter having officially qualified on the field.

Reports indicated that a special envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, Paolo Zampolli, proposed to FIFA, the international football governing body, replacing Iran with Italy in the 2026 World Cup.

Zampolli justified this idea by citing Italy's rich history in the tournament, having won the title four times, arguing that their presence would add greater value to the competition, despite their failure to qualify after losing in the play-offs to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The proposal does not appear to be purely sports-related, as reports linked this move to an attempt to improve relations between Washington and Rome, especially after recent tensions between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Despite the controversy, the proposal was met with clear rejection from the Italian side. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi affirmed that the idea was "not possible and inappropriate," adding, "The possibility of Italy being reinstated for the 2026 World Cup, which Paolo Zampolli, an envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, is said to have proposed to FIFA, is not possible. Qualification is earned on the field."

For its part, FIFA, led by Gianni Infantino, settled the matter, confirming that Iran will participate in the World Cup as normal and that there is no intention to change the qualified teams.

Despite all the controversy, the idea of replacing Iran with Italy seems almost impossible, both legally and organizationally. FIFA regulations mandate respect for qualification results, and any potential replacement would likely come from the same continent (Asia), not Europe.