US President Donald Trump’s top envoy, Paolo Zampolli, has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming World Cup, writes the Financial Times on Wednesday.
The plan is attempt to repair relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out after US President attacked Pope Leo XIV. because of the war in Iran, the FT said, citing people familiar with the matter.
I confirm that I suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy replaced Iran at the World Cup. I am of Italian descent and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a tournament organized by the USA. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusionUS special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.
Italy is in March experienced a shock after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row after Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated them 4-1 in the qualifying final after a penalty shoot-out.
Iran qualified for a fourth straight World Cup last year, but after the war broke out it asked FIFA to move three of its group games from the US to Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said during a visit to Iran’s training camp in Turkey last month that everything will be fine matches to be held as scheduledand he offered to help the national team in preparations for the tournament.
We are preparing and arranging the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authoritiesFootball Federation of Iran (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told reporters on Wednesday.
For now, the decision is that the national team will be fully ready for the World Cup.
The decision on which country would be the replacement if the Iranian government withdraws the national team from the World Cup rests in the hands of FIFA, which under article six of the World Cup rules has the freedom to invite any national team to fill the vacancy.
It is expected that the Asian Football Federation lobby for the replacement to be from Asiaand the obvious choice would be the United Arab Emirates, who lost to Iraq in the playoffs last November.
However, the UAE do not have nearly the football pedigree of Italy, having only appeared in one edition of the World Cup finals in 1990, losing all three games.
The World Cup, also co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with Iran set to begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.
(Hina | Photo: X)
