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The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year’s World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans on Thursday, with Italian media reminding readers that the idea has a very familiar feel.
Donald Trump’s US special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the US president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Trump’s envoy for “Global Partnership” but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.
The plan seems to be an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
Italy’s main sports news websites have given the story only a passing reference.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency La Press: “Firstly, it is not possible, secondly, it is not appropriate … You qualify on the pitch.”
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went further, saying the idea was “shameful”.
Leading Italian coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.
“Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn’t need Trump’s support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own,” he said.
Soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, responded by pointing to Infantino’s previous comments on Iran’s participation.
“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” he told last week’s CNBC Invest in America Forum: “Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics.”
The White House, the Italian Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Currently, there is no suggestion that Iran will withdraw or be banned from the tournament, which Italy missed out on after losing in a playoff for the third World Cup in a row.
Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but, after the start of the war, requested that FIFA move the team’s three group matches from the US to Mexico, which was rejected.
Iran is seemingly proceeding as planned. “We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities,” Iranian football federation President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Wednesday.
“For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for the World Cup.”
Four years ago, Zampolli, when he was a United Nations ambassador, wrote to Infantino saying that “the world is demanding” that he disqualify Iran because of the country’s poor human rights record and replace it with Italy.
The request was ignored as Iran took part and went out after the group stage, having lost to England and the US and beaten Wales.
In the seemingly unlikely scenario of Iran being excluded from this year’s tournament, the decision on who would replace them lies in the hands of FIFA, which, under Article Six of the World Cup regulations, is at liberty to call up any nation it chooses to fill the vacancy.
The AFC would be expected to lobby hard for the replacement to come from Asia, with the United Arab Emirates, which lost a qualifying playoff to Iraq last November, the obvious choice.
The World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, gets underway on June 11 with Iran scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.
