The Italian government has rejected a proposal by a United States (US) official to replace Iran with Italy at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with senior figures in the government lining up to dismiss the idea.
Paolo Zampolli, a US envoy for global relations, floated the suggestion amid growing uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the tournament. Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, and Iranian officials have asked FIFA to move those games to co-hosts Canada or Mexico. The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth has said that all arrangements for the team’s participation are in place.
An Iranian government spokesperson stated on Wednesday that the men’s national team was preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the US.
Zampolli argued that Italy’s record made them a worthy replacement, saying, “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.” Italy, a four-time world champion, failed to qualify for the tournament for the third consecutive time.
The response from Italy was swift. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi shut the idea down immediately, saying, “You qualify on the pitch.” Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti went further, describing the proposal as “shameful.” Italian Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio added, “It’s not possible. In order to go to the World Cup, you have to earn it.”
FIFA also pushed back, reiterating a statement from president Gianni Infantino: “The Iranian team is coming here, for sure.”
Iran secured one of eight guaranteed World Cup places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. If Iran withdraw, the logical replacement would be the United Arab Emirates, the highest-ranked Asian team that failed to qualify.
FIFA’s rules allow it to replace a withdrawn team with another association, but do not specify that the replacement must come from the same continental confederation.
