Trump envoy admits he’s lobbying FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at this summer’s World Cup
Diplomat Paolo Zampolli suggests four-time champions should be given a route back into the tournament after failing to qualify at the expense of the war-torn Middle Eastern state
An envoy to President Donald Trump has lobbied FIFA to replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup with former champions Italy, who failed to qualify for the third successive time last month, according to a report. Iran’s participation in the World Cup, jointly hosted by the U. S.
, Canada and Mexico, has been cast into doubt by the joint U. S. -Israeli airstrikes on the country that erupted on February 28, which prompted a wave of retaliatory strikes by Tehran on its Gulf neighbor states and has driven up global oil prices.
Paolo Zampolli, a U. S. special envoy, confirmed to The Financial Times that he had floated the idea of the tournament’s four-time winners taking Iran’s spot to Trump and to FIFA President Gianni Infantino , a fellow official with Italian roots.
U. S. Special Representative for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli has confirmed that he suggested to President Donald Trump that Italy replace Iran at this summer's World Cup (AFP/Getty) “I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.