No Fifa plans for Iran-Italy swap at World Cup

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature Iran despite ongoing concerns linked to its participation. According to recent reports, FIFA has not confirmed any intention to substitute Italy for Iran, even though a proposal for such a swap was introduced by Donald Trump’s special envoy. Italy, currently ranked 12th globally by FIFA, remains the top-ranked team not attending the tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized last week that the Iranian team is “coming, for sure,” reinforcing his belief in their commitment to the event. The US special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, who is of Italian descent, told the Financial Times: “I have proposed to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. It would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a US-hosted tournament, and they have the credentials to be included.”

“We hope that by then the situation will be peaceful. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They have qualified, and they’re actually quite a good team as well. They really want to play, and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics.”

Zampolli’s suggestion reportedly aimed to ease tensions between the US and Italy after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Trump’s remarks about Pope Leo XIV. Four-time world champions Italy have yet to qualify for the 2026 tournament, following a defeat in a play-off by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, Iran is set to play against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in the US and Canada over the coming weeks.

FIFA regulations grant the organization “sole discretion” in cases where a team withdraws or is excluded. Article six of its World Cup rules also allows for the replacement of a participating association if needed. However, no official statement from FIFA has been made regarding Zampolli’s idea, leaving the matter in limbo.

In March, the Iranian football federation stated it was “negotiating” with FIFA to move matches to Mexico. Infantino, during a visit to the team in Turkey, assured that the games would proceed as planned in the US. Al Jazeera recently noted that government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed Iran’s readiness to compete. Zampolli had previously advocated for Italy’s inclusion in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar while serving as a UN ambassador.

Iran’s decision to withdraw from the tournament in March was driven by safety worries following US and Israeli airstrikes. Trump had earlier expressed support for Iran’s participation but suggested they should prioritize safety. The White House World Cup Taskforce has been contacted for further comment.