The suggestion from US President Donald Trump's special envoy Paolo Zampolli that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year's World Cup has been quickly dismissed by the Italian Sports Minister.
Trump's US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the US president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
"I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion," said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Trump's envoy for "Global Partnership" but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.
The plan seems to be an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president's attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency La Press: "Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate ... You qualify on the pitch."
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went futher, saying the idea was "shameful".
Leading Italian coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.
"Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn't need Trump's support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own," he said.
FIFA responded by pointing to Gianni Infantino's previous comments on Iran's participation.
"The Iranian team is coming, for sure," he told last week's CNBC Invest in America Forum: "Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics."
Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but after the start of the war requested that FIFA move the team's three group matches from the US to Mexico.
Infantino said on a visit to an Iran squad training camp in Turkey last month that all matches would take place as scheduled, while offering the team help with preparations for the tournament.
"We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities," Iranian football federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Wednesday.
"For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for the World Cup."
The decision on which country would come in if the Iranian government withdrew the team lies in the hands of FIFA, which under Article Six of the World Cup regulations is at liberty to call up any nation it chooses to fill the vacancy.
The AFC would be expected to lobby hard for the replacement to come from Asia with the United Arab Emirates, who lost a qualifying play-off to Iraq last November, the obvious choice.
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