Italy Rejects Proposal to Replace Iran at World Cup as FIFA Stands by Tournament Lineup

Italian authorities have firmly rejected a proposal suggesting that Italy could replace Iran at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, dismissing the idea as both unworkable and inappropriate.

The suggestion, reportedly raised by Paolo Zampolli to Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was framed as a contingency plan in the event Iran became unable to participate. Speaking to the Associated Press, Zampolli insisted the idea was not politically motivated, describing it instead as a personal aspiration rooted in cultural ties between Italy and Italian-Americans. “I had a dream,” he said, emphasizing that his proposal was intended only as a last-minute alternative.

However, the response from Italian leadership was swift and unequivocal. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated that such a substitution was “not possible” and “not a good idea,” while Luciano Buonfiglio stressed that World Cup participation must be earned on merit. “You need to deserve to go,” he said, warning that any shortcut would undermine the integrity of the competition. Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went further, labeling the suggestion “shameful.”

The controversy comes despite the fact that Iran has not withdrawn from the tournament and is actively preparing to compete in matches scheduled in the United States this June. FIFA has maintained that fixtures, including those near Los Angeles and Seattle, will proceed as planned. Iran secured its place through qualification within the Asian Football Confederation, while Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup—a setback that led to high-level resignations within Italian football.

The proposal also drew criticism from Iranian officials. The Iranian embassy in Rome condemned the remarks, stating that football “belongs to the people, not to politicians,” and warning against politicizing the sport. The embassy argued that attempts to exclude Iran reflect broader geopolitical tensions rather than sporting considerations.

Those tensions have intensified following military actions involving the United States and Israel earlier this year, raising questions about Iran’s participation. Still, FIFA has reiterated its commitment to the existing tournament structure and has declined to consider relocating Iran’s matches or altering the lineup.

While FIFA regulations allow for the replacement of a withdrawing team by “another association,” they do not specify whether such a substitute must come from the same continental confederation. In practical terms, however, any replacement would typically be drawn from within Asia, with the United Arab Emirates cited as the highest-ranked non-qualified team.

For now, the governing body remains steadfast: Iran is expected to compete, and no changes to the World Cup lineup are under consideration.