Italy supporters watch the World Cup play-off final against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Rome last month. Italy lost the match in a penalty shoot-out and failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/Getty
Fifa is still aiming for Iran to play at the 2026 World Cup, despite the suggestion of Italy replacing them illustrating how the situation is reaching ever deeper levels of politicisation.
With the US-Iran conflict still unresolved, Paolo Zampolli – an envoy to the United States president – confirmed to the Financial Times that he floated the idea of the four-time winners stepping in to both Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
