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Infantino revealed that FIFA will not be accommodating Iran’s request to move their World Cup group matches to Mexico from USA amid the ongoing military attacks.
Gianni Infantino. (Picture credit: AP)
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino reiterated that the world governing body will not be accommodating Iran’s request to move the national team’s three World Cup group matches in June from the United States to Mexico.
Iranian government and football officials have stated they do not wish to boycott the World Cup, but it is impossible for the national team to travel to the U.S. due to ongoing military attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States since February 28.
The team is scheduled to play two games at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood and one in Seattle.
“We have a schedule,” Infantino said in a statement on Thursday regarding the World Cup fixtures announced in December.
“We want the FIFA World Cup to go ahead as planned.”
No team has withdrawn from a World Cup since the 1950 edition, a 13-team event in Brazil held amid global turmoil following World War II. It would be unprecedented in modern World Cup history for a team’s schedule to be altered post-draw for political reasons.
“FIFA cannot solve geopolitical conflicts,” said Infantino, who presented his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, with a specially created peace prize at the World Cup draw in December.
“But we are committed to using the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to build bridges and promote peace, with our thoughts being with those suffering due to ongoing wars,” he added.
An investigation into Israeli football was initiated 18 months ago following the second objection by the Palestinian federation.
The verdict resulted in a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs imposed on the IFA, which is less than the financial penalties imposed on Bosnia-Herzegovina’s soccer federation for fan misconduct at World Cup qualifying games in November.
FIFA disciplinary judges upheld charges against Israeli football for institutional discrimination and highlighted offensive social media comments by senior officials.
“The conduct of the IFA, in failing to take meaningful action against Beitar Jerusalem FC—a club whose supporters have engaged in persistent and well-documented racist behaviour—constitutes a clear violation,” the FIFA disciplinary panel stated.
One third of the fine must be used by Israeli officials, FIFA ruled, on “implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure action against discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents.”
“The plan shall be approved by FIFA and shall focus on areas such as reforms, protocols, monitoring, and educational campaigns in stadiums and on official channels for an entire season,” FIFA judges decided.
The judges emphasized that they “cannot remain indifferent to the broader human context in which football operates” and that the sport “must remain a platform for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect.”
March 20, 2026, 3:04 PM IST
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