U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Seated behind him are Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA). Kenny Holston /Pool via REUTERS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
(Washington, DC) – President Donald Trump is reportedly tied to an unusual proposal involving the 2026 World Cup, according to claims circulating online.
Multiple reports say Trump raised the possibility with FIFA of removing Iran from the tournament and replacing it with Italy — despite Iran already qualifying.
The idea has not been adopted, and there’s no indication FIFA plans to change the field. The organization has historically avoided political interference in tournament participation and has given no signal that Iran’s spot is in jeopardy.
Italy, a four-time champion, failed to qualify through standard competition, meaning any late inclusion would be highly irregular.
As of now, Iran remains set to compete, and the reported proposal appears to have gained little traction beyond early discussions.
