Iran is negotiating with FIFA to relocate its first-round World Cup matches from the US to Mexico due to security concerns amid Middle East tensions
Iran’s football federation is negotiating with FIFA to relocate its first-round World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico because of ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Iranian embassy in Mexico announced Monday.
Iran’s participation in this summer’s finals across the United States, Canada, and Mexico has been uncertain since the recent escalation in regional tensions.
“When (US President Donald Trump) has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on the embassy’s X account.
“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle, with their base camp originally planned in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, criticised “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and logistical support” ahead of the tournament and suggested FIFA move Iran’s matches to Mexico.
The uncertainty intensified after Trump stated the Iranian team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety,” contradicting earlier assurances by FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Iran would be welcome.
Iran responded firmly, asserting that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
The country’s World Cup participation is now in flux following US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which prompted retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and American sites across the Middle East.
