According to a report in the Financial Times, a special envoy from the Trump administration has asked FIFA to move the 2026 World Cup to Italy instead of Iran. The proposal sparked a sports diplomacy debate and pitted the disgruntled European power against its geopolitical rivals.
Proposal sparks World Cup controversy
The report, by journalists James Fontanella Khan, Josh Noble, Amy Kazmin and Alex Rogers, describes the growing conflict between sports and politics in the United States involving Italy and Iran.
US envoy Paolo Zampoli has confirmed he has proposed a swap to both FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump, insisting Italy’s four-time World Cup-winning squad was a natural fit to take part after their shock play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I can confirm that I have proposed to Mr. Trump and Mr. Infantino that Italy take part in the World Cup instead of Iran,” Zampoli told the Financial Times. “As an Italian, it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament hosted by the United States. With four titles, they have the track record to justify it.”
Political motives behind the move
The proposal goes beyond soccer and is seen as a geopolitical strategy to repair strained relations between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Tensions reportedly escalated over disagreements related to tensions in the Iran conflict and President Trump’s public criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
FIFA’s position and Iran’s response
Despite the pressure, Gianni Infantino remains resolute in upholding sporting integrity and World Cup qualifying rules.
“The Iranian national team will definitely participate,” Infantino said. “They qualified and got on the pitch. They want to play and they should play.”
The Iranian national team had raised the possibility of boycotting the World Cup following the US and Israeli airstrikes, but have since confirmed their intention to participate in the 2026 tournament.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Iranian athletes would be “welcome” in the United States, but their presence could be “inappropriate and potentially dangerous” given the current global political climate.
