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...

A Trump official proposed that the Italian team take Iran’s spot at the World Cup this summer.

Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American who is ⁠a US envoy for global relations, told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.