Media reports revealed that Donald Trump's special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, suggested to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to replace Iran's national team with Italy's national team in the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to the Financial Times, the proposal is part of political efforts aimed at improving relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following previous tensions between the two sides due to positions related to the war in Iran and disagreements with the Vatican.

Zambelli confirmed in his statements to the newspaper that he had indeed proposed the idea to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, noting that Italy's participation would be a "legitimate dream" given its rich football history, having won the title four times, despite failing to qualify after a shocking playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the other hand, no official comment has been issued from the White House, the Italian or Iranian federations, or even FIFA, while Iran has emphasized that it is ready to participate in the tournament, affirming that it is awaiting the decision of the international federation regarding some organizational matters related to its matches.