Italy repechage to World Cup, Donald Trump returns to attack Iran'Iran

Donald Trump is back to attacking Iran via social media, with a post on Truth destined to create new controversy. The U.S. president posted an image of himself, created by Artificial Intelligence, in which he holds a machine gun while wearing a black suit and military sunglasses. Behind him is a mountain range where numerous explosions can be seen. “No more Mr. Nice Guy” is the message that accompanies the image of the tycoon who would welcome Italy’s repechage to the 2026 World Cup just in place of the Asian national team.

“Iran can’t get its act together. They don’t know how to sign a nuclear deal. They better get their act together fast,” Trump added in the caption of his controversial post. Further complicating the trip to America for Mehdi Taremi and his teammates, despite the fact that qualification for the 2026 World Cup came on March 25, 2025. Making the hypothesis of seeing Italy itself repechaged in place of ‘Team Melli’ more feasible is the role of Paolo Zampolli, special envoy of the current White House tenant.

The picture of Iran’s preparation for the World Cup looks increasingly chaotic. After Puerto Rico and Panama, two other national teams — North Macedonia and Angola — have canceled test matches with the Tehran team scheduled in the pre-retreat in Turkey. Technical commissioner Amir Ghalenoei himself publicly admitted the uncertainty: “I prefer not to name names right now. I had mentioned two teams yesterday, but when I got to the hotel I found out that those matches had been canceled.” Nevertheless, the technician did not give up showing determination: “There is no reason not to participate in the World Cup. God willing, we will do it.” The current plan is for the team to remain in Tehran until May 6 to play two domestic matches, then move to Turkey and then, if possible, to the United States.

Complicating the situation further is the absence of representatives of the Iranian football federation at the largest official meeting of Asian football leaders ahead of the World Cup, held in Vancouver, Canada, in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. According to rumors, it was precisely visa problems that prevented Iranian emissaries from attending the AFC congress, further fueling fears about whether Team Melli will actually take the field in the group stages. Iran is placed in Group G along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and is scheduled to play two matches in Los Angeles — against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 — before closing out the group with Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio clarified Washington’s position: “The problem would not be the athletes. It would be some of the other people Iran would like to bring, some of whom have ties to the Revolutionary Guards. What they can’t do is bring a bunch of Revolutionary Guards terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.” An element that makes the hypothesis of the Azzurri repechage even more concrete, strongly supported by Zampolli, who said he believes in “at least a 50 percent chance, maybe even more” that Italy will be called to replace Iran.

There is no shortage, however, of unmistakable signs that the issue is already having concrete effects on the ground. Outside Seattle’s Lumen Field stadium, which is scheduled to host the challenge between Egypt and Iran on June 26, the Italian flag appears in place of the Iranian flag in the installation welcoming fans with the banners of all participating national teams. The photos, which quickly bounced around on social media, sparked heated debate and targeted the organizers.

In Italy, however, the prospect of repechage stirs more embarrassment than excitement. According to an Izi poll of more than 1,000 people, about 70 percent of Italians opposed the possibility of the Azzurri replacing Iran. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti was lapidary: “I find it shameful. I would be ashamed,” while CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio said he felt “offended” at the idea, stressing that “participation in a World Cup should be deserved.” Journalist Mauro Mazza, host of TG4, also spoke out sharply against repechage: “I would definitely say no, thank you. We were deservedly eliminated because we played bad matches, then to be readmitted in this way would smack of ‘Italian mess’.” Iran, for its part, has not shied away from a tongue-in-cheek retort: the Iranian embassy in Ghana published a post on X addressed to Italians, calling Trump “that man, allergic to civilization,” and good-naturedly inviting them to “leave him to his confusion.”