Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup, says report

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/22/trump-envoy-seeks-to-replace-iran-with-italy-at-world-cup-says-report

56 points · 21 comments · view on lemmy.world

21 Comments

NatakuNox@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 143d

Every team should boycott games in the US. Reports are showing the whole region is seeing muted international hotel bookings and cancelations of game tickets. Don't be surprised if world cup games in America have empty seats. What an embarrassment.

tal@lemmy.today · 25 pts · 143d (4 replies)

I bet when FIFA awarded Trump the FIFA Peace Prize, they didn't expect that four months later, he'd be taking the World Cup balls-deep into the Iran conflict.

kommmaklar@feddit.org · 6 pts · 143d

Infantinos personal leopards ate my face - moment

DirtPuddleMisfortune@feddit.org · 5 pts · 143d (1 reply)

It's been only four months since that? sigh

Jacob_Mandarin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 143d

And i still have trouble accepting that story as real. And not another onion headline….

Malyca@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 142d

He still had the trophy too, I think

Melchior@feddit.org · 25 pts · 143d

We should just move the host from the US to Italy. That way they would qualify automatically.

thesdev@feddit.org · 11 pts · 143d (2 replies)

I guess their flags are close enough.

StillAlive@piefed.world · 6 pts · 143d

Redditquaza@feddit.org · 5 pts · 143d

And they start with the same letter

excral@feddit.org · 9 pts · 143d (1 reply)

Trying to force Iran out of the World Cup is insanity on it's own, but trying to force Italy in is another insanity on its own. Should Iran be unable to compete for whatever reason, their spot should probably go to Bolivia or Jamaica, who were defeated in the final round of the intercontinental playoffs, or maybe to the United Arab Emirates as the best team from their confederation that didn't qualify.

FlowerFan@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 141d

Iran wasnt forced out, it has announced it is boycotting the games.

Martj9@piefed.social · 8 pts · 142d

The president of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) said: "I would be offended. You have to earn the right to take part"

The minister for sport said: "It's not appropriate. You prove yourself on the pitch"

https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/calcio/2026/04/23/litalia-ai-mondiali-al-posto-delliran-lidea-dellinviato-di-trump_76c5feaf-b821-4a3f-bec8-7141623988ae.html

Bullerfar@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 143d (9 replies)

He can fuck this garbage of an event up just as much as he wants. Who is actually going to watch this shit anyways? The games are going to be in the middle of the night because they wanna sell the event for the american market, not for the Europeans.

HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 5 pts · 143d (6 replies)
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Bullerfar@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 142d (3 replies)

I mean, I am a football fan, but no way am I going to watch this garbage, when Mafifa decides to fuck us with the time difference, and give trump a peace medal. Fuck that shit.

HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 2 pts · 142d (2 replies)
[ removed ]
Bullerfar@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 142d (1 reply)

For me it was when FIFA gave Russia the world cup in 2018, even though they annexed Krim and were still in war with Ukraine.. Then FIFA showed their true colors.

HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social · 1 pts · 142d
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SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 142d (1 reply)

I was disgusted by Qatar, football fans are just assholes.

Bullerfar@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 141d

That too

IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 141d (1 reply)

I'm used to getting up early on the weekend to watch EPL games so the kick off times would be welcome but I'm not going to watch. I skipped the last one, it's not a big deal to skip this one.

Bullerfar@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 141d

Me too

Damage@feddit.it · 7 pts · 143d

Fuck no please, missing world cups is the best thing that's happened in sports in recent years. Everything's better, people do other things, minor sports get a boost, nobody's moody because we get eliminated at some point...