Trump Administration Urges FIFA to Replace Iran with Italy at World Cup.

Trump Administration Urges FIFA to Replace Iran with Italy at World Cup.

The Trump administration has reportedly asked FIFA to remove Iran from the upcoming World Cup and hand its spot to Italy, which failed to qualify for the tournament, according to a Financial Times report.

The move was allegedly driven by a senior US envoy, who pressed football’s global governing body to expel Iran amid rising geopolitical tensions and the ongoing Iran war.

The envoy is said to have argued that Italy’s rich footballing history, including its four World Cup titles, made the Azzurri a worthy replacement despite missing out in qualifying.

The reported proposal is also seen as part of a broader diplomatic effort to repair strained ties between President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following disagreements linked to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo.

While the suggestion has generated intense debate in political and sporting circles, FIFA, the White House, and the football federations of Italy and Iran have so far not issued any formal public response to the report.