Overview
- Italian officials rejected Paolo Zampolli’s plan to replace Iran with Italy, calling it improper and insisting World Cup places must be earned on the field.
- Il Post reports the Trump administration has not backed the idea, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Iran will attend and that politics should stay out of sport.
- Iran’s government said its team is preparing for 2026, and reporting notes FIFA would likely replace any withdrawal with another Asian team rather than a European side like Italy.
- Lazio reached the Coppa Italia final after 21-year-old goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four penalties in a shootout to set up a May 13 meeting with Inter at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
- Veteran voices added perspective, with Dino Zoff calling a hypothetical invite “not very sporting” yet acceptable, and Gianluigi Buffon urging change and lamenting the lack of creative Italian talents.