"I can confirm that I have proposed to (President Donald) Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Iran be replaced with Italy," Zampolli told the Financial Times.
Iran's embassy in Rome responded to the proposal, according to AFP, by saying that the United States is "morally bankrupt" and that Italy does not need "political privileges" to show its greatness in football.
Iran said earlier this year that it wanted to move its matches from the United States to Mexico or Canada, which FIFA rejected. Donald Trump has said that the United States cannot guarantee the safety of the national team.
Infantino said last week that Iran will play in the World Cup.
They really want to play and they should play.
