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President Donald Trump’s envoy has reportedly asked FIFA to remove Iran from Italy’s 2026 World Cup scheduled for this summer.
The Financial Times reported that the plan is an attempt to mend the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister, Giorgio Meloni, which has soured following the former’s comments against Pope Leo XIV regarding the war with Iran.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli was the one who proposed the idea to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
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President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the Official Artist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on Dec. 5, 2025. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA)
“I confirm that I suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup. I am born in Italy, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament hosted by the US,” Zampolli told the press. “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify the inclusion.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Italy already had a chance to be in the World Cup, but lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying final.
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Italy became the first World Cup winners to miss three consecutive tournaments following a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat earlier this month.
“We still can’t believe it – that we’re out and that it happened this way,” Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola told reporters at the time, via the New York Post. “It upsets everyone. For us, for our families and for all the children who have never seen Italy in the World Cup.”
When Zampolli told Infantino about his proposed plan, the FIFA president said Iran would “definitely” play in the World Cup despite the dispute involving the US.
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A match against Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium in Tehran on March 25, 2025. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” Infantino said during the CNBC Invest in America Forum earlier this month in Washington, DC.
“We hope that at that time, the situation will be peaceful. That would really help. But Iran must come, represent its people. They have succeeded. The players want to play.”
Infantino visited Iran’s national team in Turkey, where they have their training camp.
All three of Iran’s group stage games are scheduled to be played in the US That’s after Iranian government officials suggested to FIFA that their games be moved to Mexico because they won’t go to the US.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and insists that Iran play where it is scheduled – SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran said earlier this month that it would only decide on its team’s participation once it heard from FIFA about its relocation request.
Iran is scheduled to play at the SoFi Stadium against New Zealand on June 16 to kick off their tournament. It will also play Belgium on the field before finishing the group game with Mo Salah and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the international friendly match between Mexico and Portugal at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City on March 28, 2026. (Photos by Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty)
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Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month that Iran is welcome to compete in the World Cup as scheduled, although it may not be appropriate given the conflict.
“Iran’s soccer team is welcome at the World Cup, but I don’t believe it should be there, for their own health and safety,” he wrote.
Trump also told Politico, “I don’t really care,” when asked about Iran’s participation in the tournament. Infantino, who has a strong relationship with Trump, said Trump “reiterated” to him that the US welcomes the Iranian team to compete.
Paulina Dedaj of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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