Donald Trump’s latest idea — that the Italian national team, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, should replace the Iranian team, which did qualify on the field — has not, for the moment, garnered any approval among the parties involved. Neither from FIFA nor from the transalpine country. The proposal from the US president’s envoy, Paolo Zampolli, to the international football federation has, according to initial reactions, clashed with regulations and the wounded pride of a nation that a month ago culminated in the great historical failure of not obtaining a ticket for the third consecutive World Cup.
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FIFA sources told this newspaper that the suggestion promoted by the Trump Administration has every appearance of being unfeasible. Especially because, even if Iran did not attend the big event, which is unlikely, the team that would replace them would have to come from their own confederation, the Asian one. In that case, the substitute would be the United Arab Emirates, which lost a playoff against Iraq in the last round of Asia (this team later qualified for the World Cup after defeating Bolivia).
This initial reaction from football’s governing body was in line with the words expressed a few days ago by its president, Gianni Infantino, in which he insisted that he hopes Iran can participate normally in the World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19. The Iranian team is in Group G, with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, and its three initial phase matches are scheduled to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle, although a last-minute change of location has been considered for them to play in Mexico instead of the US. In December, FIFA planned to turn their third match, against Egypt, into “the pride match” to celebrate and defend LGTBIQ+ rights, a decision that generated a lot of noise because both countries are against them.
“I find it shameful”
Meanwhile, in Italy, Donald Trump’s move was met with much skepticism and coldness. Two ministers spoke out against it on Thursday morning, citing, above all, a matter of dignity. “I read that Trump’s envoy wants to readmit Italy to the World Cup: I find it shameful. I would be ashamed,” said Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti bluntly when questioned by journalists. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi emphasized the same: “First, it’s not possible, and second, it’s not appropriate. I don’t know which comes first. Qualification is achieved on the field.” Italy was eliminated on March 31 after losing the European playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, a fiasco that has caused the biggest crisis in azzurro football history.
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In the country, it is also recalled that Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s envoy, already asked for the same in 2022 for the Qatar World Cup, without anyone paying him any attention. Italy was also left out of that event, and this emissary wrote a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, asking him to exclude Iran and allow Italy to participate. Now, he has done it again. “I confirm that I have suggested to Trump and [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am Italian and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament organized by the United States. With four titles, they have the necessary track record to justify their inclusion,” Zampolli told the Financial Times.
Sources close to this envoy have acknowledged that the initiative seeks to mend relations between Washington and Rome, which have deteriorated after Trump’s recent comments about Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s stance on the Iran war, according to the British newspaper.
A month ago, at the start of the war in Iran, this possibility was already fantasized about in Italy and then dismissed, as everything indicated that, according to the rules, in case of Iran’s absence, its place should be taken by the next non-qualified team from its confederation, which is the United Arab Emirates, which, incidentally, is a country attacked by Iran in this conflict.
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