Iran Hints at Rejoining 2026 FIFA World Cup as U.S. Proposes Italy Take Its Place

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[Financial News] Iran, which has entered an indefinite ceasefire with the United States (U.S.), has hinted that it may send its national soccer team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in June. Meanwhile, the U.S. is reportedly considering filling Iran's spot with Italy, which already failed to advance from World Cup qualifying but is close to U.S. President Donald John Trump.
According to The Associated Press (AP), Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for the Iranian government, appeared on state television on the 22nd (local time) and said that the Ministry of Sport and Youth, under the minister's instructions, had announced that Iran's national soccer team had completed all preparations related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. She emphasized that the ministry had completed all necessary arrangements for the team's pride and a successful participation.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iran, which finished first in AFC Final Round Group A, had already secured its place in the tournament last year. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand and the Kingdom of Belgium in Inglewood, State of California, on June 15 and June 21, respectively. It will then face Egypt in Seattle, Washington State, on June 26.
In an interview last month on the 10th, Ahmad Donyamali, Iran's minister of sport and youth, argued that "we cannot participate in the World Cup under any circumstances, given that the corrupt regime (the U.S.) assassinated our supreme leader (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei)." He said that "our children (players) are not safe" and added that "it is clearly impossible for us to take part in the World Cup." Earlier, the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting Feb. 28, and Khamenei was eliminated on the day of the attack. In Australia last month, six members of the Iranian squad competing in the AFC Women's Asian Cup also applied for asylum with the Australian government.
In response, FIFA rejected Iran's request to change the venue of its matches. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that "the Iran national team will definitely come" and added, "I hope things will be peaceful by then."
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The U.S. is skeptical about Iran's participation in the World Cup. Trump wrote on social media on the 12th of last month, "We welcome Iran's national soccer team to the World Cup, but considering their lives and safety, I do not think it is appropriate for them to be there."
The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 22nd, citing sources, that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, had proposed to Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. Under FIFA rules, the organization has broad discretion to replace a participating country that becomes problematic, including in cases of withdrawal.
Zampolli, a former model agent and businessman from Milan, is close to Trump. He told FT that the claim was true and said, "I was born in Italy, and it would be a dream to see the Italy national football team at a tournament held in the U.S."
He stressed that "they, with their four World Cup titles in the past, have the pedigree to justify a replacement appearance." Italy's national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time after losing a qualifier last month.
A source said Zampolli's proposal was part of an effort to mend the strained relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni was close enough to Trump to be the only European leader to attend his second-term inauguration last year, but she pushed back this month after Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling it "unacceptable."
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pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter