Donald Trump pushing FIFA World Cup to betray its values and hit a brand new low

Donald Trump and his envoys are already throwing their weight around in an attempt to push FIFA into doing something that runs counter to the organization’s stated values. One of Trump’s envoys recently revealed that the administration is working behind the scenes to pressure FIFA into replacing Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup — even though Iran qualified and Italy did not.

Reportedly, Trump’s barrage against Pope XIV has not gone down well with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This comes at a time when the administration has already been straining the United States’ relationship with much of Europe — from claims on Greenland to repeated insults toward NATO, and even its perceived role in the region’s current energy crisis.

But the global landscape shifts quickly. While the EU initially chose to stay out of the conflict with Iran, the bloc recently announced it would expand sanctions over Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Whether that move is justified — or effective — is still up for debate, but it can just as easily be read as a diplomatic olive branch toward the U.S.

At first glance, none of this has anything to do with soccer — or even FIFA, which continues to brand itself as an apolitical organization, FIFA Peace Prize notwithstanding. The structure of the FIFA World Cup is straightforward: teams have four years to qualify, and those that win the necessary matches earn their place in the tournament. Italy failed to do so. Iran did not.

Italy’s failure to qualify has sparked some controversy, largely because of its illustrious history in the competition. The now-fired Italian coach, Gennaro Gattuso, even attempted to shift blame onto African teams being “overrepresented,” saying, “In 1990 and 1994, there were two African teams, now there are nine. It’s not a controversy, but there are difficulties, and we know it well. To be honest, Africa should have fewer World Cup places.”

Italian fans, however, were less receptive to that argument and instead pushed Gattuso to take accountability. Once it became clear that Italy would not be taking part in the World Cup, the entire coaching staff resigned. Still, according to The Guardian, U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli said, “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”

There was a time when this administration was adamant that merit should outweigh everything else. That argument surfaced when defunding DEI initiatives, and again when amplifying debates around transgender women in sports. Now, that same logic appears to bend when it comes to including a team that had four years to qualify — and didn’t — on the basis of “pedigree.”

FIFA has spent much of this century chipping away at its own credibility. But if it were to grant Zampolli’s request, that might mark a new low — perhaps even a definitive one.