A special envoy to Donald Trump suggested switching Iran for Italy for this summer’s World Cup, but FIFA has no plans to do so.
According to Naija News, the current war between the US and Israel has cast doubt on Iran’s involvement. However, a BBC story claims that football’s regulatory body has discreetly stated that the team is still competing.
“I confirm that I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup,” US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told Financial Times.
“Seeing the Azzurri at a tournament held in the United States would be a dream come true for me as an Italian native. They have the history to support their admission, having won four titles.
FIFA declined to answer explicitly, citing statements made by Gianni Infantino, the organization’s president, last week: “The Iranian team is coming, for sure.”
According to the publication, when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chastised Trump for comments he made about Pope Leo XIV, the suggestion was partly meant to reduce tensions between Washington and Rome.
After losing their play-off match to Bosnia and Herzegovina last month, Italy, the four-time winners, will miss the World Cup for the third time in a row.
Iran’s group matches are set for June 15 and 21 in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium, and June 26 in Seattle against Egypt.
The competition will begin on June 11 and will take place throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.
According to FIFA statutes, the governing body has the exclusive authority to choose a substitute in the event that a team withdraws or is excluded.
“We hope that by then the situation will be peaceful,” Infantino stated at a speech in Washington last week. That would undoubtedly be beneficial. However, if Iran is to represent its people, they must come. They are actually a pretty excellent team, and they have qualified. They ought to play because they truly want to. Politics and sports ought to be kept apart.
Despite earlier talks about shifting the games to Mexico, Infantino announced the matches will take place in the US after meeting Iran’s team in Turkey in March.
Iran was “fully prepared” to participate, according to official spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani, who was quoted by Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
When Zampolli was a United Nations ambassador prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he adopted a similar strategy.
Iran temporarily declared in March that it would not take part, citing concerns over safety in the wake of Israeli and US airstrikes. Later, Trump stated that although the nation would be “welcome” at the competition, they might decide to stay away “for their own life and safety.”
