Italian sports minister dismisses plan for Azzurri to replace Iran at 2026 World Cup

• Special envoy to Donald Trump suggested the idea

• ‘Firstly not possible … secondly not appropriate’

The Italian sports minister, Andrea Abodi, has described a proposal for his country to replace Iran at the World Cup as “not appropriate”, rejecting any idea that the Azzurri will be granted a last-minute berth at this summer’s tournament.

On Wednesday it emerged that Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy to Donald Trump, had https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/22/trump-envoy-seeks-to-replace-iran-with-italy-at-world-cup-says-report">suggested Italy should be fast-tracked to the World Cup despite their https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/31/bosnia-herzegovina-italy-world-cup-2026-qualifying-playoff-match-report">shock defeat by Bosnia & Herzegovina in last month’s playoffs.

Zampolli proposed the four-time winners Italy replace Iran and said they would “have the pedigree to justify their inclusion”.

But Abodi said that football’s showpiece tournament should remain meritocratic.