Leading Italian sports writers have pushed back against a proposal from a senior envoy of US President Donald Trump suggesting Italy should replace Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the idea unrealistic, unfair and against the spirit of sport.
According to a Financial Times report, Paolo Zampolli — an Italian-born special envoy for Trump — floated the idea that Italy could take Iran’s place at the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The suggestion came after Italy’s painful elimination from qualification following a defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European play-off final on March 31, leaving the four-time champions out of the World Cup for a third straight time.
The idea quickly stirred controversy in Italy, where many see the team’s absence as the result of sporting failure, not political misfortune.
‘Complete nonsense’
Ivan Zazzaroni, editor-in-chief of Corriere dello Sport, strongly dismissed the proposal, saying it had no sporting or legal basis.
“Zampolli is not someone to be taken seriously,” he told Anadolu, calling the idea “complete nonsense” and “entirely unfounded.”
“We failed to qualify, we were eliminated, and that’s the end of it,” he said.
“Why should we be reinstated? On what grounds? Because we have won four World Cups? That may be true, but it is also a fact that we have missed three in a row.”
Zazzaroni stressed that FIFA’s rules are clear: if a qualified team withdraws, its place should go to another team from the same confederation — not to a European side that failed to qualify.
He also noted that Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina and national team coach Gennaro Gattuso both resigned after the failure, saying Italian football must rebuild rather than hope for extraordinary political intervention.
‘Merit must prevail’
Gianfranco Coppola, president of the Italian Sports Writers Association, acknowledged that politics has often shaped major sporting events, citing Olympic boycotts and past tournament disputes.
Still, he said sporting merit must remain the deciding factor.
“In my view, the final word should always be left to the pitch and to those who earn victory there,” he said.
Coppola admitted Italy’s participation would be commercially attractive for sponsors, broadcasters and fans, but said the national team simply did not do enough to earn its place.
“The federation is currently in complete disarray,” he said. “A new coach must be appointed, and the team needs to be rebuilt.”
Some commentators have suggested the proposal may also be tied to recent tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, particularly after Trump criticised Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
Still, for most in Italian football, the message is simple: World Cup places are won, not gifted.
