HIBAPRESS – Agencies.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that a high-level envoy for President Donald Trump asked the International Federation of Football (FIFA) to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup finals.
The special American envoy, Paolo Zamboli, told the newspaper, "I confirm that I suggested to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino replacing Italy with Iran in the World Cup." Zamboli added, "I am of Italian origin, and it would be a pleasure for me to see the Italian team in the finals hosted by the United States." He concluded by saying about the Italian team, "They have a record full of four titles that qualify them to participate in the World Cup." The newspaper cited informed sources that the proposal aims to repair relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the dispute that arose between them against the backdrop of the American president's criticism of Pope Leo, the Pope of the Vatican, regarding the war with Iran.
