Could Italy Substitute Iran in the FIFA World Cup?

(SeaPRwire) –   Amidst ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, and with Iran slated to participate in this summer’s FIFA World Cup hosted by the U.S., reports indicate a senior envoy to President Donald Trump has proposed replacing Iran with Italy. Italy failed to qualify for the tournament, but its inclusion could potentially foster better diplomatic ties with the European country.

On Wednesday, The Financial Times reported that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special representative for global partnerships, put forward a suggestion to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump: that Italy should take Iran’s place in the World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to commence in June across various cities in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

Zampolli confirmed his proposal to the FT, stating, “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup.” He added, “I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”

Sources close to the situation informed the FT that this proposition aimed to mend the strained relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Although Meloni has been a strong supporter of the U.S. President, their rapport deteriorated after Trump recently criticized Pope Leo XIV, a prominent critic of the war. Meloni deemed the verbal attack on the Pontiff “unacceptable,” to which Trump retorted that she was the “unacceptable” one, claiming she “doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.”

Zampolli’s diplomatic effort through soccer would especially aid Italy, whose national team experienced a significant defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in late March. This loss, marking the third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup for the 2006 champions, ignited widespread public anger and led to the resignation of Italy’s soccer federation chief.

However, Iran reaffirmed this week its full readiness to take part in the World Cup.

“The Iranian team is coming, for sure, yes,” stated Infantino, the FIFA President and a Trump ally, at a D.C. conference last week. He added, “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Is FIFA Able to Replace Iran?

The regulations for replacing a team are detailed in Article 6 of the FIFA 2026 World Cup rules.

Regulation 6.5 stipulates that “if a Participating Member Association withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the authorised FIFA organising body (including the Tournament Operation Centre) shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary.”

Furthermore, Regulation 6.7 indicates that should any member team withdraw or be excluded from the World Cup, FIFA holds the discretion to “replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association.”

FIFA has exercised similar discretionary authority in the past. For instance, in March 2025, several months prior to the start of the 2025 Club World Cup, the organization disqualified Mexican team Club León due to non-compliance with multi-club ownership criteria. Despite rejected appeals, FIFA announced in May that León’s replacement would be decided by a single playoff match, which MLS team Los Angeles FC won against Mexican team Club América.

Statements from Iran, Trump, and FIFA

Iran, having qualified for the World Cup in 2025, is slated to play its games in the U.S.

However, following the outbreak of war in late February and the death of Iran’s revered former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the nation’s sports and youth minister declared it “not possible” for the team to participate in the tournament, citing safety and security concerns. At that time, Iran’s soccer federation president Mehdi Taj stated, “We cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.” The Iranian soccer federation’s request to relocate its matches was denied by FIFA.

On March 10, Infantino posted on Instagram that Trump had guaranteed Iran’s “welcome” to compete in the World Cup. Trump reiterated this on March 12, though the U.S. President also remarked that while Iran could travel to the U.S., he felt it was not “appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

A U.S. State Department spokesperson informed the FT that the Administration “is doing everything needed to support a successful World Cup while at the same time upholding U.S. law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process.”

Iranians are currently among numerous nationalities prohibited from entering the U.S. However, Trump’s comprehensive travel ban proclamation in June 2025 had exempted athletes, members of athletic teams, and individuals in a “necessary support role.” Nevertheless, concerns about this rule emerged after the State Department denied visas to some Iranian delegates for the World Cup draw last December. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA task force, told the Associated Press then, “Every single decision is a national security decision.”

“Sports should be outside of politics,” Infantino declared at the conference. He continued, “Now, we don’t live on the moon; we live on planet Earth. But if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well, we are doing that job.”