U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio has downplayed proposals of Italy replacing the Iran national team at this summer’s World Cup while also opening the door to further complications for the Middle Ea...

On Wednesday, reports emerged that an envoy to President Donald Trump was attempting to replace Iran with Italy at this year’s World Cup.

Paolo Zampolli, a U.S. special envoy, confirmed to the FT he had floated the idea of four-time winners Italy stepping in to Trump and to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, but the country's sports minis...