A Trump special envoy asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the 2026 World Cup, citing concerns about Iran's ability to host matches amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The request is real and confirmed by Reuters, The Guardian, and multiple other major outlets, though FIFA has not acted on it and Iran's football federation says the team is preparing to participate. The proposal reflects the Trump administration's broader strategy to isolate Iran diplomatically and athletically—replacing a qualifying nation on geopolitical grounds would be unprecedented in modern World Cup history.