Italy has not tried to smooth things over. Instead, it has pushed back after Paolo Zampolli, an envoy linked to US President Donald Trump, suggested the country should replace Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The proposal, raised against the tensions over Iran's place in the tournament, has been widely viewed in Rome as political and out of bounds.
The idea surfaced this week as the competition draws closer, and it has landed badly. Officials in Rome have called it inappropriate and offensive, stressing that places at the World Cup must be earned on the pitch. The suggestion has also unsettled figures across Italian football and government. Many believe it risks pulling the national team into a political row it never asked for.
