23 April 2026; James McClean during a Derry City training session at Celtic Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Irish America should demand a World Cup reprieve for The Boys In Green
If it’s good enough for Italy, it’s good enough for us
Cathal Dervan, Editor
Many years ago, before he had a motorway service station named after him and ahead of one of his many triumphant visits here, Barack Obama remarked that half of America is Irish and the other half wants to be.
Nobody really contradicted him so it must be true. And we should hope it is if we want to cling to a World Cup lifeline because we need either or both of those two halves of Irish America to play a game of political football right now with current President Trump, his many special envoys and anyone who can get us back on football’s biggest stage.
USA ‘94 - he shoots, he scores - Ray Houghton sends Giants Stadium and Italy green. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile
It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds even if all of Troy Parrott’s good work in Budapest was undone in Prague last month and Ireland exited the USA 2024 saloon at the European play-off semi-final stage.
See, all we need is a bit of clout and a lot of neck, both of which can come from any of those in America who are either Irish or want to be. All we have to do is to take a leaf out of the Italian book. A cheeky Italian book.
Now you’d think the Italians were in the same boat as us in terms of the upcoming World Cup finals. They did beat Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland in their play-off semi but then managed to lose the final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Down and out? Far from it. On Thursday, the US Special Envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times and the BBC that he has suggested to President Trump that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup because of the current carry-on in the Middle East.
He even went so far as to say that he is an Italian native and that it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. He mustn’t have been in the Giants Stadium in 1994 so.
Here’s the best bit though. Zampolli is a former modelling agency boss, property trader and socialite and allegedly introduced Trump to Melania, now the First Lady of the United States.
He definitely has a bit of clout with Donald. So take note when he says that with four World Cups to their name, Italy ‘have the pedigree to justify inclusion.’
That’s it sorted so. Aside from the fact that they are currently at war with the USA, Iran’s footballers have never won the World Cup. So they shouldn’t be there in the first place. No pedigree.
The same theory applies to New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt last time I checked, the three countries scheduled to play Iran this summer.
So Zampolli should have a word with Donald and ask him to remove the three of them as well, by association with Iran thanks to the World Cup draw.
FIVE2FOLLOW
Iran no go
Forrest springs eternal
Big month for Bohs
O’Neill double act doubt
7k-up for City at Celtic Park
Then, if Irish America applies enough pressure, he can propose that Ireland join Italy in the replacement teams category, regardless of the fact that we can’t qualify for World Cups anymore, never mind dream about winning them.
It’s justifiable. There are as many Irish as Italians in America and Donald loves County Clare. Like the Italians, we’re Catholic by and large as well so that will appease the Pope after his recent spat with the President.
We’ll even bring the party, inflatable shamrocks and all, to Los Angeles and Seattle where Iran are currently scheduled to play.
It’s a no-brainer from where I’m sitting even if FIFA, the Italian Government and most of the world’s football fans are already laughing at Zampolli and this mad idea.
You don’t think it can happen? This is a World Cup owned by Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino. Anything is possible. Literally, anything.
See you in America, Troy.
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The Italian Government and FIFA have poured cold water on a proposal from one of Donald Trump’s special envoys to have Italy replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup finals in the USA.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli first outlined the plan, concocted apparently to ease the tense relationship between Italy and the Trump administration over the war with Iran.
Zampolli said: “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
The BBC reports that while Fifa did not comment officially on this suggestion, they did refer to a recent statement from their president Gianni Infantino who said: “The Iranian team is coming, for sure.”
Italy were beaten by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-offs last month and the BBC further reports that members of the Italian Government and their Olympic federation have dismissed the Zampolli idea.
Iran are scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle at the World Cup finals.
Martin O’Neill may be leaving the Celtic manager’s job at the end of the season but he has ensured that winger James Forrest will be staying for another year at least after agreeing a contract extension with the 34-year-old.
Forrest, Celtic’s most decorated player with 26 major honours including 13 League medals, will play on for an 18th season at the club according to a report on Sky Sports.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’ve been here my full career and I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve been so successful in my time here and I’m delighted to have signed another year, and I’ll just give my best to the club for however long I’ll be here.
“While I’m still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I’m just going to give it everything until I finish. When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish.”
Bohs have now gone six games without a win in the Premier Division but manager Alan Reynolds is predicting a big few weeks for the Gypsies ahead of the mid-season break, starting with Friday night’s trip to St Patrick’s Athletic.
The Saints are currently second in the league table and Reynolds is relishing another Dublin derby after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers.
With games against Derry City and Shels also on the horizon, he told the Irish Sun: “They are open games and I think that suits us. We’ve St Pat’s on Friday and then we’ve six games in May, with one brought forward because of Europe. That’s going to be a big month for us.
“The good thing is that, probably for the first time this year, we have a fully fit squad to choose from which is unusual for this stage of the season.”
Michael O’Neill has opened up speculation about his Northern Ireland manager’s role after successfully steering Blackburn Rovers to Championship survival in his short-term job sharing stint as Ewood Park boss.
The Belfast Telegraph reports on O’Neill’s candid comments to the BBC regarding his future after the 3-1 win at Sheffield United on Wednesday night that guaranteed Championship football next season.
“You can’t do both, there’s no way you could do both,” said O’Neil. “I was only able to do the two things because the play-off against Italy was in March, there’s no way you could do it when the games are in September, October, November, it’s not possible. At some point, I’ll have to make a decision one way or the other.”
Competitive soccer returns to Celtic Park, the home of the GAA in Derry, for the first time in 80 years on Friday night when Derry City take on League of Ireland Premier Division leaders and champions Shamrock Rovers in front of the Virgin Media cameras.
With work on a new pitch at the Brandywell now underway, City have moved their games to the GAA ground which hosted Irish League side Derry Celtic years ago.
RTE Sport reports that City expect to welcome 7000 fans to Celtic Park for the game, just 1000 under capacity.
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