Paolo Zampoli, the US Special Representative for Global Partnerships, has been campaigning for Iran to play his country instead of Italy at the World Cup. The Italian-American admits time is running out for an 11th-hour substitution by FIFA, but insists it remains extremely difficult to trust the Iranian international to actually feature.
Zampoli, 56, claims he had Donald Trump’s backing when he approached Gianni Infantino about Italy’s participation in Iran’s place, but the FIFA president continues to insist on Team Melli’s participation. Nevertheless, Zampoli said FIFA’s regulations regarding substitute teams are fundamentally flawed. That’s exactly why he contacted Infantino, he explains.
Zampoli told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “With Mr. Trump’s support, I contacted Mr. Infantino because FIFA regulations are inadequate for replacing absent teams, and if Iran did not participate in the World Cup, four-time champions Italy, which ranks highest among the excluded teams, would meet the appropriate requirements,” he said.
Reacting to Infantino’s claim that Iran would also take part, Zampoli said: “Okay, but the crux of the matter is to understand what the Iranians are thinking, and it’s very difficult to trust them. Now they’re saying the team is coming, but what about their follow-up? That would be very unwelcome in the United States, given what’s going on, right? The game is coming…”
Zampoli described their “following” as “very unwelcome in the United States given what’s going on.” He added, “The battle has begun…” His proposal is far from being widely popular in Italy. However, Zampoli believes he will be able to overcome this once the tournament begins.
He said this after being informed that the country was evenly divided over the possibility of participating in the tournament. “I understand that, but how do you think Italians will react if their national team participates in the World Cup? Will they cheer like only we know, or will they not watch the games because we didn’t qualify?”
Asked about putting pressure on Infantino again, Zampolli said: “I don’t think it’s necessary, even if we were running out of time. And last year I already convinced him to hold the World Cup draw at the Trump Kennedy Center.”
The interviewer also suggested that Infantino’s Italian descent puts him in a complicated position. But Zampoli responded, “What if this made things easier?”
Infantino has repeatedly said Iran will participate in the World Cup, and the country maintains a similar public position. Italy has shown no signs of wanting to participate, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi dismissing Zampoli’s proposal as impossible and inappropriate.
