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Chorus of no to Italia's repechage to the World Cup. Trump: 'I don't think about it'

The hypothesis put forward by Paolo Zampolli, Special Envoy of the US President for Global Partnerships

by Rome Editorial Staff

24 April 2026

Il presidente Usa Donald Trump ha confidato di non pensare all’ipotesi di un ripescaggio dell’Italia ai Mondiali di calcio APN

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Versione italiana

Key points

Zampolli's thesis
Trump: "I'm not thinking about it that much."
Rubio: "We don't want people linked to the Pasdaran"

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Italia picked for the World Cup instead of Iran? No thanks. It is a unanimous chorus that opposes the proposal of the US president's special envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, who, according to the Financial Times, proposed the swap to the president of the International Football Federation, Gianni Infantino, and to Donald Trump, as the leader of the country co-organising the tournament. US President Donald Trump confides: 'I'm not thinking about it.

Immediate reactions in Italia, all against a possible repechage of the Azzurri. Lapidary the Minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi: 'first it is not possible, second it is not appropriate. I don't know what comes first. You qualify on the field'. "Today I read that Trump's envoy wants to repechage Italia in the World Cup: I find this shameful. I would be ashamed,' also said the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgett, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an appointment at the Quirinale. Coni president Luciano Buonfiglio also dismissed this possibility. "First of all I don't think it is possible, secondly I would feel offended. To go to the World Cup you have to deserve it,' said the number 1 of Italia sport on the sidelines of the awarding of the Città di Roma prize organised by Opes.

The only voice out of the chorus, if you can call it that, was that of the legendary captain at the 1982 World Cup Dino Zoff. "It's something that is generally done, it's certainly not brilliant, it's not the best but it's useful. If there was a chance we should take it, even if it's not very sporting,' he told the microphones of Un Giorno da Pecora on Radio1.

Zampolli's thesis

According to sources close to the affair, Zampolli claimed that the four world titles won by Italia justified Iran's seat. Sources told the British newspaper that the plan is aimed at mending relations between Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the attacks in recent days. Fifa did not want to comment on Zampolli's impromptu exit, referring instead to President Infantino's recent statements on Iran's certain participation in the World Cup. The FIFA number 1 also met with the Iranian national team in Antalya at the end of March. Moreover, it is noted, Zampolli is no stranger to such outings, having already done so before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after Italia's second exclusion.

Trump: "I'm not thinking about it that much"

'I'm not thinking about it that much'. This is how Trump responded when asked what he thought about the possibility of Italia taking part in the upcoming World Cup instead of Iran, as suggested by the tycoon's special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, in the Financial Times report.

Rubio: "We don't want people linked to the pasdaran"

"No communication from the US has told them (Iran, ed.) that they cannot come," added Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who was invited to respond by Trump. "However, I don't know where this rumour came from," Rubio added. Green light for athletes, but 'we don't want people linked to the Pasdaran'.

"I mean, the problem with Iran would not be about their athletes; rather it would be about some of the other people they would like to bring in, some of whom have ties to the Pasdaran (Irgc). We may not be able to bring these people in, but this is not about the athletes themselves,' Rubio added, speaking at the White House during the second round of talks between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon, in efforts to reach a peace agreement. However, "I don't know where this rumour comes from, except from mere speculation that Iran might decide on its own not to participate, leaving Italia to take its place. But that would be their autonomous decision: they would choose not to come simply because they have decided so,' the Secretary of State continued. 'What they cannot do, however, is introduce a group of Pasdaran terrorists into our country and expect them to be, in short, journalists or athletic trainers,' Rubio concluded.