Iran Negotiates with FIFA to Relocate Matches from US to Mexico

Federation in talks with FIFA after US security worries raise doubts over tournament plans

Publish date: since 4 hours Reading time: 1 min read

Iran Negotiates with FIFA to Relocate Matches from US to Mexico

Iran might not play its World Cup matches in the United States after all.

The Iran Football Federation is currently in talks with FIFA to move its scheduled games to Mexico, citing concerns over player safety.

Safety Concerns Spark Talks

Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said the decision comes after comments from Donald Trump, who suggested that hosting Iran in the US may not be appropriate due to safety risks.

Taj made it clear: if security cannot be guaranteed, the team will not travel to the US.

Matches Originally Set in the US

Iran is currently scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle as part of the 2026 tournament.

The World Cup, organized by FIFA, is set to kick off on June 11 across three host countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Withdrawal Still Unclear

While discussions are ongoing, Iran has not officially withdrawn from the tournament.

The Asian Football Confederation confirmed it has not received any notice of withdrawal, adding that as of now, Iran still plans to compete.

High Stakes for FIFA

If Iran does pull out, it would mark the first withdrawal from a modern World Cup, leaving FIFA scrambling to find a replacement team on short notice.

For now, all eyes are on the negotiations—and whether Iran will stay in the tournament or shift its matches outside of the US.

To read the full story for free, please enter your e-mail

Thank you for your subscription, you will receive our Newsletter shortly

Iran Negotiates with FIFA to Relocate Matches from US to Mexico

Safety Concerns Spark Talks

Matches Originally Set in the US

Withdrawal Still Unclear

High Stakes for FIFA

Related articles