FIFA has formally rejected a suggestion backed by US President Donald Trump that Iran be replaced by Italy in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reaffirming that Iran will take part in the tournament as one of the 48 qualified teams. The proposal, reportedly advanced by senior US special envoy Paolo Zampolli, asked that Italy—four‑time World Cup champions and a non‑qualified side—take Iran’s slot after the Asian team secured its place through the regular qualification process. FIFA has stated it has “no intention” of substituting Iran with Italy or altering the list of qualified teams, in line with its statutes and the existing rules and regulations governing qualification and participation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly reiterated that “the Iranian team is coming, for sure,” underlining that the governing body will not respond to political pressure to redraw the World Cup line‑up. The idea of swapping Iran with Italy was initially floated by Zampolli, who told the Financial Times that he suggested the move to both Trump and Infantino, describing it as a “dream” scenario given Italy’s World Cup pedigree. However, the proposal has been widely dismissed by Italian officials and sports politicians as inappropriate and unfeasible, with Italy’s sports minister, Andrea Abodi, stressing that “you qualify on the pitch” and that such a substitution is not possible under the rules of the competition.
The row unfolds amid heightened political tensions around the 2026 World Cup, particularly after Trump previously urged Iran not to attend the tournament because of security concerns linked to the ongoing US–Iran conflict, while also publicly insisting that the Iranian team would be “welcome” if it decided to participate. Iranian officials have since made clear that Iran is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in the World Cup and intends to play its matches in the United States as scheduled. FIFA’s latest position, as reported by EL PAÍS, underscores that the decision on who competes lies solely with the football‑governing body and not with any political administration.