Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup, says report

• US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvement

• Doubts remain over Iran’s participation

An envoy to the US President Donald Trump has asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is 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, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.