Trump ally asked FIFA to have Italy replace Iran at World Cup

The Washington Post reports that a Trump ally—identified across multiple outlets as U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli—asked FIFA to allow Italy to replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup, citing Italy's four-time championship pedigree despite the country's failure to qualify. Italian officials rejected the proposal with apparent embarrassment, according to the reporting. The Washington Post article is bylined to two named journalists and sourced to named officials; corroboration from Reuters, The Guardian, The Athletic, Financial Times, and Telegraph confirms Zampolli's request and Italy's lukewarm response, though reporting differs slightly on framing—some outlets note this may be tied to diplomatic efforts between the Trump administration and Italy's PM Meloni. Critical readers should monitor FIFA's official response to the request and any statements from Iran, which has indicated readiness to participate despite ongoing geopolitical tensions with the United States.