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United States special representative for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, continues to campaign for Iran's replacement at the World Cup with his native Italy. The Italian-American acknowledges that time is running out for any eleventh-hour switch by FIFA, but insists it remains extremely difficult to trust that the Iranian squad will actually appear.

Zampolli, 56, maintains he had Donald Trump's backing when he approached Gianni Infantino about Italy taking Iran's place, but the FIFA president continues to insist that Team Melli will participate. Nevertheless, Zampolli describes FIFA regulations concerning replacement teams as fundamentally flawed. That, he explains, is precisely why he reached out to Infantino.

Zampolli has spoken to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He said: "With Trump's support, I contacted Infantino because FIFA regulations are flawed in the replacement of a team that doesn't show up, and if Iran didn't participate in the World Cup, Italy, which has won it four times and is the highest-ranked of the excluded teams, would meet the right requirements."

Responding to Infantino's assertion that Iran will participate, Zampolli said: "OK, but the crux of the matter is understanding what the Iranians are thinking, and it's very hard to trust them. Now they say the team will come, but what about their following, which is very unwelcome in the United States, given what's happening? The game is on..."

Zampolli describes their 'following' as "very unwelcome in the United States, given what's happening." He then added: "The game is on..." His proposal is far from universally popular in Italy. Zampolli, however, believes they would get over it once the tournament started.

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He said after being told that their possible inclusion in the tournament is dividing the country: "I can understand that, but how do you think Italians would react if the national team played in the World Cup? Would they cheer like only we know how, or wouldn't they watch the games because we didn't qualify on the pitch?"

Asked about pressuring Infantino again, Zampolli said: "I don't think it's necessary, even if time is running out. And last year I already convinced him to hold the World Cup draw at the Trump-Kennedy Centre."

The interviewer also suggested that Infantino's Italian descent puts him in a complicated position. Zampolli, however, replied: "What if this could make things easier?"

Infantino has repeatedly stated that Iran will feature in the World Cup, and the country has maintained the same public position. Italy are showing no signs of wishing to participate, with sports minister Andrea Abodi dismissing Zampolli's proposal as both impossible and inappropriate.