Trump envoy Paolo Zampolli says he asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup

An envoy for US President Donald Trump has asked world soccer’s governing body FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup, according to the Financial Times.

US special envoy Paolo Zampolli tells the FT it would be a “dream” to see four-time World Cup winners Italy at the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada despite the fact its team lost in a qualification playoff last month.

The suggestion is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Giorgia Meloni after the Italian prime minister fell out with the US president after criticizing his attack on Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the newspaper reports.

“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 tells the FT.

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoff final.

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 it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.

But Infantino told AFP last month, while attending Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, that Iran will be at the World Cup and will play “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.”

Zampolli is an Italian-American socialite, businessman and former modeling agent who claims to have introduced Trump to his current wife Melania Trump.