OFFICIAL: Italy's national team rules out replacing Iran in the World Cup

Following the proposal by a US envoy to include Italy's national team as a replacement for Iran in the 2026 World Cup, senior officials in Rome immediately issued a firm rejection.

A surprising proposal from the United States stirred international football discussions by suggesting that Italy's national team should replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup. However, the response from Italy was swift and decisive, with a clear stance that every ticket to the planet's biggest football festival must be earned on the pitch.

This idea was put forward by Paolo Zampolli, an envoy associated with the administration of President Donald Trump. He stated that he had submitted the proposal to both the US President and FIFA President Gianni Infantino as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate due to geopolitical tensions. “I have a dream, which is to see Italy's national team participate in the tournament on US soil”, he shared.

However, Italian sports officials promptly objected. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi asserted a firm position: “Italy participating in the World Cup in this manner is impossible and inappropriate. Qualification must be determined on the field.” This statement clearly reflects the government's stance, viewing the proposal as contrary to the spirit of sport.

Not stopping there, the President of Italy's Olympic Committee Luciano Buonfiglio expressed a stronger attitude, describing the idea as insulting. “I feel insulted. You must deserve to be at the World Cup”, he emphasized. Some other officials even used harsh language to describe this proposal, indicating the intensity of the opposition.

In reality, Italy's national team failed to secure a spot for the 2026 World Cup after a defeat in the play-offs, marking their third consecutive absence from the tournament. This is a major shock for a football nation that has won the World Cup four times. Nevertheless, Italy maintains the view that returning to the World Cup must come from competitive performance, not through external decisions.

Regarding FIFA, President Gianni Infantino also confirmed that Iran will still participate in the tournament as planned. This means the replacement proposal has almost no practical basis at present. Even if Iran were to withdraw, regulations prioritize the next highest-ranked team from the same region, rather than a team from another continent.

Meanwhile, Iran also confirmed they are preparing normally for the World Cup and have not received any request related to withdrawal. This further makes the proposal from the US side appear unfeasible.