Citing worries over player safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran has begun negotiations with FIFA to move their 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, acknowledged the action, stating that the request was made in response to comments made by US President Donald Trump on Iran’s eligibility to compete.
“We will definitely not travel to America when Trump has made it clear that he cannot guarantee the security of the Iranian national team,” Taj declared.
“We are in talks with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup games to Mexico.”
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place from June 11 to July 19. Before facing Egypt in Seattle, Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles.
However, current confrontations in the Gulf between Iran, Israel, and US-aligned governments have complicated the tournament’s setting. Security concerns have increased as a result of recent strikes and counterattacks, especially for Iranian athletes visiting American sites.
According to Naija News, Trump had previously stated that Iran is “welcome to the World Cup,” but he added that he does not believe “it is appropriate” for them to go “for their own life and safety.”
FIFA has acknowledged the circumstance, but it has not stated that the schedule will be altered. FIFA regularly communicates with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss World Cup preparations, a representative told the BBC. “FIFA anticipates that all participating teams will compete in accordance with the match schedule that was announced on December 6, 2025.”
Iran has not pulled out of the competition after qualifying for the World Cup for the fourth time in a row. FIFA, not any host country, is in charge of the competition and should ensure security for all teams, according to a message sent on the national team’s Telegram account.
Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s minister of sports, noted that the current circumstances don’t offer the ideal setting for involvement.
