By Kwame Bediako
FIFA has no intention of replacing Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup, according to reports, despite a proposal from US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Paolo Zampolli.
The idea, suggested to both Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was framed as a way to “smooth over” US–Italy tensions after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the US president’s comments about Pope Leo XIV, but it has not been adopted by FIFA.
Iran’s place underlines FIFA’s stance
FIFA points to Infantino’s repeated public assurance that “the Iranian team is coming, for sure,” and highlights that the war‑related tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel have not changed Iran’s qualified status for the tournament.
The governing body stresses that sports should remain outside politics, adding that Iran has expressed both the desire and the ability to participate, with Iranian officials declaring the team “fully prepared” to take part in the USA–hosted matches.
Italy’s absence and the “replacement” idea
Four‑time champions Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup for a third time in a row, losing in a play‑off to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zampolli, an Italian‑born envoy, used his position to propose that Italy be invited in Iran’s place, arguing that the Azzurri’s pedigree justified their inclusion.
However, FIFA has not shown any formal move in that direction, reiterating that any substitution under Article 6 of World Cup regulations would be a FIFA‑driven decision, not a diplomatic one.
How the 2026 World Cup could unfold for Iran
Under the current schedule, Iran is set to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a fixture against Egypt in Seattle on June 26, as part of the broader 11 June–19 July tournament across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
While the White House has repeatedly treated Iran’s participation as negotiable from a security and political angle, FIFA’s consistent line is that the Iranian team has earned its place and should compete in the world’s showpiece event, provided the geopolitical climate remains stable enough for safe participation.
