Iran In Talks with FIFA To Move World Cup Matches From US To Mexico

‎Iran’s football federation says it is in talks with FIFA about relocating the national team’s World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico due to concerns over player safety.

‎Their involvement in the tournament was cast into doubt after joint US airstrikes heightened tensions. US president Donald Trump stated that Iran was still welcome to compete but argued it might be unsafe for them to play matches on American soil.

‎“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” said the president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, in a post on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X account.

‎“We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.“

‎FIFA did not immediately respond to comment requests. The tournament, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on June 11, with Iran slated to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Iran will face Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G.

‎If they finish as runners-up, the US and Iran are scheduled to meet in the last 32 in Dallas.

‎Organisers for the Los Angeles and Seattle matches did not promptly respond to comment requests outside regular US business hours.

‎The prospect of shifting Iran’s fixtures to Mexico would mark a significant logistical switch for the tournament, though relocating matches for security or geopolitical reasons is not unprecedented.

‎In cricket, strained India-Pakistan relations mean they only meet at neutral venues in multi-team events. India declined to travel to Pakistan for last year’s Champions Trophy and were permitted to play all matches in Dubai.

If FIFA rejects a venue switch to Mexico, it seems unlikely Iran would travel to the United States for the tournament while at war with one of the co-hosts.

‎Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said last week that Iranian players could not participate after the United States, with Israel, carried out airstrikes on Tehran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

‎Several state media outlets later reported that no withdrawal decision had been made, and even questioned Donyamali’s comments. While the minister’s views carry weight, the final decision will be made higher up in the government.

‎An official withdrawal would be unprecedented in the modern era and would force FIFA to quickly find a replacement.