A suggestion by a former envoy to Donald Trump that Italy should replace Iran at the upcoming FIFA World Cup has drawn swift criticism from Italian officials, who insist that qualification must be earned on merit.

Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American businessman who previously served as a global relations envoy, said he had raised the idea with both Trump and Gianni Infantino. He argued that Italy’s four World Cup titles justify their inclusion, especially at a tournament hosted by the United States.

However, the proposal—widely dismissed in Italy—triggered embarrassment among fans and drew firm opposition from political and sporting authorities.

Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio rejected the idea outright, stressing that World Cup participation must be earned. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi echoed that position, while Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti described the suggestion as “shameful.”

Former Italy coach Gianni De Biasi also dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, noting that if any team were to withdraw, standard procedure would favour another qualified side rather than Italy. He added that Italy does not need political backing to secure a place at the tournament.

A more cautious view came from David Aganzo, who acknowledged that qualification should be based on sporting merit but suggested there could be complexities not yet publicly known.

FIFA has not indicate that Iran’s place is in doubt. Infantino recently reaffirmed that Iran will participate, emphasising that football should remain separate from politics.

No Indication Iran Will Be Replaced

There is currently no sign that the Iran Football Federation will withdraw or be excluded. Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed that preparations for the tournament are ongoing, although he noted the team would comply with any decisions by national authorities.

Iran secured qualification for a fourth consecutive World Cup, while Italy will miss a third straight edition after failing in the playoffs.

The proposal also echoes a similar attempt by Zampolli ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, when he urged FIFA to exclude Iran over human rights concerns—an appeal that was ultimately ignored.

Under FIFA regulations, the governing body has discretion to select a replacement team if necessary, though such a scenario remains highly unlikely. Should it arise, the Asian Football Confederation would be expected to push for another Asian nation to take Iran’s place.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with Iran scheduled to open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles.

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Marco Rubio has said the United States has no objection to Iranian players competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but warned that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will not be allowed entry.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio stressed that Washington’s position is to protect athletes while maintaining national security restrictions.

“Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come,” Rubio said, referring to Iran’s participation in the tournament.

Donald Trump also echoed that stance, saying his administration “would not want to affect the athletes,” in remarks at the White House.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to kick off on June 11, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

However, Rubio drew a firm line regarding non-playing personnel.

“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in—but not the athletes themselves,” he said.

He added: “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” noting that Washington has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The comments come amid earlier controversy sparked by Paolo Zampolli, who suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament—a proposal that drew criticism and has no official backing.

There has been no indication that Iran will withdraw from the competition or face a ban. Iran had previously requested that its group-stage matches be moved from the United States to Mexico following the outbreak of hostilities, but that request was rejected by FIFA.

Tensions remain high after the escalation of conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran earlier this year. A fragile ceasefire has been in place for just over two weeks following a series of strikes and counter-strikes that resulted in significant casualties and displacement across the region.

Despite the geopolitical backdrop, U.S. officials insist the tournament will proceed with athletes at its centre, even as security considerations shape participation off the pitch.

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Advocacy groups issued a travel advisory on Thursday, warning that visitors travelling to the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup may face arbitrary detention or deportation, among other ​human rights abuses.

The warning, which came less than two months before the sporting ‌event kicks off in Mexico, was signed by dozens of groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP.

The event will take place against a backdrop of widespread immigration crackdown by the Trump administration and the erosion ​of federal protections for racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ community.

Fans, players, journalists and ​other visitors may face racial profiling, searches of electronic devices, or risk of ⁠cruel treatment if they end up in immigration detention facilities, according to the advisory.

The ​groups added that people from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQ individuals are “most ​vulnerable to serious harm” when travelling to the U.S.

For this reason, they said, visitors should exercise caution and have an emergency contingency plan.

“FIFA has unique leverage right now to pressure the U.S. government to respect the fundamental ​human rights of every person visiting and attending the games, as well as those working and ​living in the 11 U.S. host cities,” the ACLU said in a statement referring to the sport’s global ‌governing ⁠body.

“That’s why the ACLU and other members of the Dignity 2026 Coalition have been urging FIFA to act. But FIFA has yet to offer meaningful assurances.”

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a statement, the world soccer organisation said: “As per article 3 of the ​FIFA Statutes, FIFA is ​committed to respecting all ⁠internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.”

It cited several actions and a special rights advisory group as “evidence ​of FIFA’s commitment to human rights across all key activities and actors ​connected to ⁠the tournament.”

Thursday’s warnings follow a March statement from Amnesty International that the tournament is drifting far from the “safe, free and inclusive” event originally promised by FIFA

The World Cup is set to hold 104 matches across ⁠the United ​States, Mexico and Canada, starting in June. Eleven U.S. ​cities will host matches for the sporting event, including East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York, where the championship ​match will be held.

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