Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA about moving their upcoming World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. This comes after President Trump suggested last week that he could not guarantee the safety of the Iranian team on US soil, saying it might not be appropriate for them to play in the US “for their own life and safety.” The 2026 World Cup is set to begin on June 11 across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
According to Reuters, Iran’s football president, Mehdi Taj, responded firmly, stating, “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America.” He also added, “We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”
The tensions have a serious backdrop. The US and Israel recently launched joint air strikes on Iran, which resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader. Following the strikes, Iran’s sports minister said it was not possible for their players to participate in the tournament.
Iran’s request to FIFA is reasonable given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their matches
Iran qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup by topping their group in Asian qualifying. They are currently scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, facing Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G. Moving these matches would be a major logistical challenge, and organizers in Los Angeles and Seattle have not yet commented.
Relocating matches for security or political reasons is not entirely new in sports. Last September, Scotland played Belarus in a World Cup qualifier at a neutral venue in Hungary after UEFA ruled on Belarus’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In cricket, India and Pakistan only play each other at neutral venues in multi-team tournaments, and India refused to travel to Pakistan for last year’s Champions Trophy, playing all their matches in Dubai instead. FIFA has not officially responded to requests for comment.
Trump’s anger over Israel’s strikes on Tehran has added another layer of tension to an already complicated situation, with reports suggesting Trump’s fury over Israel torching Tehran’s fuel depots playing into the broader diplomatic fallout. If FIFA rejects Iran’s request, it seems very unlikely that Iran would still travel to the US to play, especially while effectively at war with one of the tournament’s co-host nations.
An official withdrawal by Iran would be a first in the modern era, and would create a serious problem for FIFA, who would then need to find a replacement team quickly. Beyond the football question, the wider conflict has raised serious concerns, with analysts watching whether US troops could be deployed on Iranian soil as part of a backup plan tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday that they have not received any official notification that Iran plans to withdraw. AFC General Secretary Windsor John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that “it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup.” For now, it is a waiting game, with the decision resting entirely with FIFA.
Published: Mar 17, 2026 05:15 pm