Italian officials have strongly rejected the notion that Italy could substitute Iran at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, labeling the idea as both inappropriate and unrealistic. This proposal was initially put forward by Paolo Zampolli, who claimed to have discussed it with former US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Iran’s participation in the tournament has been uncertain due to recent regional conflicts and security issues. Despite this, Italy’s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi emphasized that World Cup qualification must be achieved through competition rather than by default. He firmly stated that Italy’s return to the tournament is neither feasible nor proper under these circumstances.
Luciano Buonfiglio echoed this sentiment, describing any attempt to replace a qualified team as offensive and underscoring that participation in the World Cup must be earned on merit. Meanwhile, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti condemned the suggestion as “shameful,” highlighting the unified stance of the Italian government against the proposal.
Italy, a nation with four World Cup titles, failed to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament after losing a playoff match to Bosnia and Herzegovina, prolonging their absence from the global event. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is currently placed in Group G, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.
