An envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked world football body FIFA to consider replacing Iran with Italy at the upcoming World Cup, according to the Financial Times.US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT, as quoted by news agency AFP, that it would be a “dream” to see Italy play at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, even though they lost in a qualification playoff last month.The Iranian embassy in Rome responded by saying the idea showed America’s “moral bankruptcy” and added that Italy did not need “political privileges” to prove its football record.The FT report said the suggestion was also linked to efforts to ease tensions between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after differences between them over comments related to Pope Leo XIV and the Iran war.“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” Zampolli said.Italy have won the World Cup four times, but failed to qualify for a third straight edition after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their playoff final.“Italy has earned its greatness in football on the pitch, not thanks to political privileges,” the Iranian embassy said on X.“The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only reveals the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which is afraid even of the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field of play.”Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been thrown into doubt by the war with the US and Israel that broke out on February 28.The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) had said in April that it was in talks with FIFA to shift its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.FIFA president Gianni Infantino had said last month, during Iran’s friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey, that Iran would take part in the World Cup and would play “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.
