The Financial Times (FT) reported on Wednesday that Paoli Giampaolo, a close associate of President Donald Trump, has proposed replacing Iran with Italy in the 2026 North American World Cup.
According to the FT, Giampaolo revealed that he suggested to President Trump and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino that Italy should participate in the World Cup instead of Iran.
Giampaolo, who is of Italian descent, expressed that seeing the Azzurri (the Italian national team) play in a World Cup hosted by the U.S. would be a dream come true.
However, it remains unclear whether Giampaolo’s statements reflect the official position of the White House. It is also uncertain whether FIFA is considering altering Iran’s eligibility or allowing Italy to participate as a replacement.
Earlier, several international news outlets, including Reuters, reported that the Italian soccer community is facing a significant crisis after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
On February 28, the U.S., in conjunction with Israel, launched a preemptive strike against Iran, initiating a conflict. A ceasefire has been in effect since April 7.