Football fans not enthused by suggestion of Iran-Italy swap

MILAN: The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year’s World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from fans of Italy’s national football team on Thursday, with the 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 [Italy’s national football team] 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 US 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 LaPresse: “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 said last week: “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 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.

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.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026