Italy reacted coldly to the proposal to have Italy participate in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup finals instead of Iran, saying, “Participation rights must be earned at the stadium.”
According to the local ANSA news agency on the 23rd (local time), Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abody met with reporters that day and said that the proposal to participate in the World Cup on behalf of Iran was “not appropriate.”
Minister Abodi emphasized, “The right to participate in the World Cup finals must be earned at the stadium,” adding, “This kind of substitution is not even technically possible.”
Luciano Buonpilio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, also said, “I don’t think it’s possible and I would feel insulted,” and added, “We have to achieve qualification for the World Cup finals ourselves.”
According to the Financial Times (FT), Paolo Zampoli recently proposed to U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Italy participate in the World Cup finals instead of Iran.
Zampoli is a former model agent and businessman from Milan, Italy, and is known as President Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships and close associate.
Reporter Ahn Kyung-jun eyewhere@segye.com Go to reporter page
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