An envoy to US President Donald Trump has reportedly proposed that FIFA replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to reports, US special envoy Paolo Zampolli described the idea as a “dream,” citing Italy’s rich football pedigree as four time world champions. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Zampolli said he had discussed the proposal with both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, suggesting that Italy’s historical success could justify their inclusion despite failing to qualify.
Italy recently missed out on the World Cup after losing a playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking their third consecutive absence from the tournament.
The suggestion is also seen as politically sensitive, reportedly linked to efforts to mend relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following diplomatic tensions.
Meanwhile, Iran’s participation has faced uncertainty due to ongoing conflict involving the country, raising logistical and security concerns. However, FIFA has maintained that Iran will take part in the competition as scheduled. Infantino previously stated that all qualified teams would play according to the official draw.
The proposal has sparked debate, as replacing a qualified team with a non qualified one would break with elished sporting rules and precedent. FIFA has not indicated any intention to alter the lineup for the 2026 tournament.
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