Iran, FIFA Discuss Shifting World Cup Games From America to Mexico Over Safety Fears

Iran’s soccer federation is negotiating with FIFA, overseer of the upcoming World Cup, about moving the team’s group stage matches from the United States to Mexico because of concerns about the safety of its players.The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play all three of its Group G matches in America with games at Los Angeles on June 15 against New Zealand and June 21 against Belgium. Iran is also scheduled to play on June 26 versus Egypt at Seattle.Iran’s concerns about the safety of its players in America was heightened after President Trump said last week that Iran was welcome to participate, but suggested it might not be appropriate for them to play in America “for their own life and safety.”Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian soccer federation, took Mr. Trump’s comments as a threat to his players and staff. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Mr. Taj said in a statement posted by Iran’s embassy in Mexico. “We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”Iran’s participation in the global showcase has been in doubt since the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes on the country on February 28.Mr. Trump’s suggestion that the Iranian players should be concerned for their safety came one day after the sports minister in Iran, Ahmad Donyamali, said “under no circumstances” could his country participate in the World Cup after the airstrikes. He called the Trump administration a “corrupt regime” that had assassinated Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in one of the initial airstrikes. The fatal airstrike was in fact staged by Israel.“Our children are not safe,” Mr. Donyamali said, adding, “Given the malicious actions [Americans] have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said her country would have no problem hosting Iran’s World Cup matches even as construction for the event remains incomplete. In addition to hosting the opening ceremonies at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico is scheduled to host the Group A round robin that also includes South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the UEFA playoff, potentially Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia or the Republic of Ireland.Team USA is competing in Group D where it will face Paraguay at Los Angeles on June 12 before traveling to Seattle to play Australia on June 19. The Americans return to Los Angeles for the final group game against the winner of the UEFA playoff involving Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.FIFA has said little about Iran’s tenuous status for the World Cup, simply affirming there are no plans to change the current scheduling. “FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters. “FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on December 6, 2025.”Relocating Iran’s games at this stage would create a logistical nightmare. Presumably, Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand would have to fly to Mexico to play against Iran, giving the Iranians an unfair advantage because they wouldn’t have to travel. Meanwhile the American host cities and FIFA would miss out on revenue from those matches.Relocating matches for security or geopolitical reasons is not unprecedented. A World Cup qualifier between Scotland and Belarus was moved to Zalaegerszeg near the Austrian and Slovenian borders in September 2025 after Belarus became a staging ground for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.New Zealand’s soccer federation chief executive, Andrew Pragnell, said he doesn’t expect Iran’s games to be moved. “I don’t foresee it as remotely feasible,” he said in New Zealand. “By trying to move the match schedule, you actually create more problems down the track. I don’t think it will happen.”Iran has qualified for seven men’s World Cups and all of the past four. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and was the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. A spokesman for the Iranian government, Esmail Baghaei, said it’s the duty of FIFA and America as a co-host nation to keep the players safe.“When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event,” Mr. Baghaei said.The general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, of which Iran is a member, expects Iran to play.“They are our member. We want them to play,” Windsor John said in Kuala Lumpur. “As far as we know, Iran is playing. It’s a very emotional moment. Everybody is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day, it is the [Iran] federation who should decide if they’re playing and as for today, the federation has told us that they’re going to the World Cup.”

Iran, FIFA Discuss Shifting World Cup Games From America to Mexico Over Safety Fears

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