Italy’s repechage to the World Cup, Luciano Buonfiglio exposes himself and frosts everyone
The proposal by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, to re-specify Italy for the 2026 World Cup in place of Iran continues to cause discussion, and not a little. The news, reported by the Financial Times, had already immediately raised discordant opinions, among fans and insiders, and even the president of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio, expressed himself in this sense, avoiding mincing words on the issue.
“First of all, I don’t think it is possible,” said the top Italian sports executive on the sidelines of an event in Rome. “Secondly, I would feel offended: participation in a World Cup should be deserved. Strong words then from Buonfiglio, according to whom the World Cup chapter, for the Azzurri colors, was closed when it is the series of penalty kicks in Zenica rewarded Bosnia-Herzegovina instead of Italy.
According to the Financial Times, the proposal would be an “effort to repair the ties between Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni” after the U.S. president’s recent attacks on the Pope. Zampolli personally confirmed the pressure on the international federation: “I confirm that I 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.”
Making the possibility of a vacancy a reality is the situation of Iran, whose participation in the tournament remains in the balance because of the conflict with the United States and Israel. Tehran had asked FIFA to move its group matches to Mexico, but received a sharp refusal from the federation. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said that “if the safety of the national team’s players in the United States is guaranteed, we will leave for the World Cup,” clarifying, however, that the final decision will be up to government authorities together with the Supreme Council for National Security.
There is no shortage of signs, however, that leave the door open for Iranian participation. The Iranian federation has announced the organization of a friendly against Panama in the United States for early June, interpreted as an opening toward the rainbow review. The Persian Gulf Professional League has also postponed the current season’s matches until after the World Cup, a further indication that plans are concretely being made in Iran for a world expedition. Against this backdrop of great uncertainty, FIFA will have to dissolve the reservation by the end of April or early May to ensure the smooth running of the 48-team tournament.
The scenarios on the table also include the rather remote option of leaving only three teams in Group G (Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand), a solution that would, however, displease everyone. More concrete, on the other hand, appears to be the option of a mini-qualifying tournament that would involve Italy and Denmark among the Europeans, as well as two Asian representatives, one African and one South American among the possible participants, to fill the only spot that may remain vacant.
