Italy’s repechage to the World Cup: Iran’s fury after Trump’s ''''aid'
Pressures on Fifa by Paolo Zampolli, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, to repechage Italy in place of Iran at the 2026 World Cup have triggered a veritable sports earthquake, with very mixed opinions even within the borders of the Bel Paese. Among the opposing voices, inevitably, is that of the Iranian Embassy in Italy, which has made its voice heard on X.
“Football belongs to people, not politicians,” the post reads. Italy won soccer greatness on the field, not thanks to political rents. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only shows the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which even fears the presence of eleven young Iranians on the field of play.”
On Thursday, after the revelations of the Financial Times regarding the possible repechage, Zampolli himself had personally confirmed the pressure on the International Federation: “I confirm that I have suggested to Trump and Infantino to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup. I am Italian, it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at the World Cup in the United States. With four titles, the Azzurri have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
According to the Financial Times, the initiative would also represent an “effort to mend ties between Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni” after the U.S. president’s recent attacks on the Pope. Moreover, this is not the first time such a proposal has emerged: back in 2022, on the occasion of the World Cup in Qatar, the U.S. ambassador wrote to Infantino asking for the exclusion of Iran and the inclusion of Italy.
Iran, however, is not about to let up: the Islamic Republic’s national team qualified after the third round of the Asian Zone, finishing first in Group A ahead of Uzbekistan (another national team admitted to the World Cup), the United Arab Emirates (admitted in the fourth round but eliminated in the fifth), Qatar (qualified after the fourth round), Kyrgyzstan and North Korea (out of the World Cup).
