Fifa stands by comments made last week by president Gianni Infantino in which he said that "the Iranian team is coming, for sure".

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The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

L'inviato speciale di Donald Trump Paolo Zampolli ha chiesto alla Fifa di sostituire l'Iran con l'Italia alla Mondiali del 2026. (ANSA)

L'inviato speciale di Donald Trump Paolo Zampolli ha chiesto alla Fifa di sostituire l'Iran con l'Italia alla Mondiali del 2026. (ANSA)

US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvement at World Cup as doubts remain over Iran’s participation

L'inviato speciale di Donald Trump Paolo Zampolli ha chiesto alla Fifa di sostituire l'Iran con l'Italia alla Mondiali del 2026. (ANSA)

The plan is reportedly an effort to repair ties between Trump and a onetime world ally, who has slammed the president's attacks on Pope Leo XIV.

Paolo Zampolli ha avanzato la proposta alla FIFA citando i 4 titoli mondiali degli Azzurri come giustificazione

Fifa stands by comments made last week by president Gianni Infantino in which he said that "the Iranian team is coming, for sure".

The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year's World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans.

The Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi has described a proposal for his country to replace Iran at the World Cup as ‘not appropriate’

No one from United States ‘told them they can’t come’, Marco Rubio said, while Iranian delegation members judged to have ties to IRGC may be barred

Ein Trump-Gesandter sorgt für Wirbel: Laut seiner Aussage soll Italien den Iran bei der WM 2026 ersetzen. Die Fifa soll mit im Boot sitzen, auch wenn die offizielle Sprachregelung…