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The Iran Football Federation is negotiating with FIFA to move its World Cup games from the United States to Mexico because of the ongoing war.
Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup is now shrouded with uncertainty (Picture credit: AFP)
The Iran Football Federation is in talks with FIFA to shift its upcoming World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, in light of a full-blown war between the two countries that has jeopardised the entire world, according to the Iranian embassy in Mexico.
Iran’s participation at this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into doubt since the war started late last month.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military said that missiles from Iran were heading towards them, with Israel siding with the United States in their war on Iran.
“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 tweeted.
“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico,” Taj said.
Iran are all set to take on New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle, with Tucson, Arizona, earmarked as the team’s base camp for the tournament.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, on Monday criticised what he described as the US government’s ‘lack of cooperation’ on visa issuance and logistical support for the Iranian delegation ahead of the FIFA World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy’s website.
Pasandideh added that he had ‘suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches be moved from the United States to Mexico’, while the governing body didn’t respond to AFP’s request for comment.
Donald Trump sparked controversy last week after saying that while Iran’s football team would be ‘welcome’ in the United States, it wouldn’t be ‘appropriate’ for them to attend because of concerns over their ‘life and safety’.
Trump’s remarks followed assurances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who said that he had been told the Iranian team would be welcome in the United States.
March 17, 2026, 09:48 IST
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