World Cup 2026: No Fifa plan to swap Iran and Italy after Trump envoy asks for switch
By Dan Roan
Published on April 23, 2026.
Fifa has no plans to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup 2026, according to sources. This decision was made by US president Donald Trump's special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, following ongoing uncertainty over Iran's participation due to the ongoing war with the US and Israel. The move was suggested as a way to resolve the issue between the two countries. Under Fifa rules, it has "sole discretion" on what happens if a team withdraws or is excluded from the competition.
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