Key Takeaways
- Fifa will keep Iran in the 2026 World Cup draw, sources tell Kenyan media.
- Trump adviser Paolo Zampolli asked for four-time winners Italy to take Iran’s slot.
- Gianni Infantino insists the Iranian squad “has earned its place on the pitch”.
Fifa has no intention of swapping Iran for Italy at the 2026 World Cup, senior officials confirmed on Thursday, ending a lobbying effort led by United States presidential aide Paolo Zampolli.
Zampolli, who was born in Milan, told the Financial Times he urged both Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino to hand the Azzurri Iran’s berth because “champions deserve to be there”. Italy missed out after a shock play-off loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Iran booked their ticket last year.
Infantino, speaking in Washington last week, brushed aside the idea. “Iran qualified fairly. They will play,” he said. A brief Fifa note repeated the president’s line and added that any late withdrawal is handled “only by Fifa’s council”, not by political requests.
Iran’s group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt will go ahead in Los Angeles and Seattle as planned, despite earlier talk of moving the fixtures to Mexico amid security fears. Tehran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told Al Jazeera the squad is “fully ready” to land in the US on 8 June.
Trump himself has sent mixed signals, saying Iran is “welcome” yet warning that “it may not be safe for them”. The White House World Cup task-force did not reply to questions on Thursday.
Under tournament rules, Fifa can fill an empty place only if a nation officially withdraws; no such letter has arrived from Tehran. With kick-off on 11 June, the draw is effectively locked.
