Tehran (TDI): Iran is in negotiations with FIFA to relocate its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing escalating security concerns tied to rising geopolitical tensions, the head of the country’s football federation said on Tuesday.
Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj indicated that his country would not be willing to play matches on US soil after the US and Israeli joint airstrikes on Iran on February 28, and what has culminated into a full-blown military conflict.
According to Taj, assurances over the safety of Iranian players could not be guaranteed, prompting the request to move fixtures to Mexico, a co-host of the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. Iran has already qualified and is drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with its matches currently slated to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran’s sports minister has previously gone further, suggesting that participation in the tournament may be “impossible” under current circumstances, although no formal withdrawal has been submitted.
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The situation has been further complicated by remarks from US President Donald Trump, who acknowledged uncertainty over whether Iranian players could safely compete in the United States. These concerns have fueled Tehran’s push for neutral venues within the existing host framework.
Any relocation of matches would present significant logistical challenges for FIFA, including scheduling, ticketing and security arrangements across three host nations.
While similar venue changes have occurred in international sport due to security risks, shifting World Cup fixtures at this stage would be an unprecedented disruption for football’s flagship tournament.
FIFA has yet to publicly confirm whether it is considering Iran’s proposal. Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation has stated it has not received official notification of a withdrawal, leaving Iran’s participation, and the location of its matches, uncertain.
If Iran ultimately pulls out, it would mark the first withdrawal from a modern-era World Cup and force FIFA to identify a replacement team on short notice.
