According to Daily Express - Sport, Zampolli described FIFA regulations concerning replacement teams as fundamentally flawed. He said he had Donald Trump's backing when he approached FIFA president Gianni Infantino about Italy taking Iran's place. Zampolli's proposal is far from universally popular in Italy, but he believes Italians would get over their division once the tournament started.
Zampolli also claimed he convinced Infantino to hold the World Cup draw at the Trump-Kennedy Centre last year. Infantino continues to insist that Iran will participate.