…Zampolli said the proposal was discussed with Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
USA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| Donald Trump’s envoy, Paolo Zampolli, has suggested that FIFA replace Iran with Italy at the 2026 World Cup.
Zampolli said the proposal was discussed with Trump and Gianni Infantino, describing it as part of broader diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The move follows reported tensions between Trump and Meloni, partly linked to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV over the Iran conflict.
“I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament,” Zampolli said, citing Italy’s four World Cup titles as justification.
However, the proposal is likely to face strong opposition, as Italy failed to qualify for the tournament after losing 4-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff earlier this year, making any replacement highly unlikely under FIFA regulations.
