The Iran Football Federation is in talks with FIFA about moving its FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns over player safety.
This was announced on Monday by the President of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj.
Since Iran was attacked by the United States in collaboration with Israel, questions have emerged about whether the country will participate in the World Cup scheduled for this summer.
Last week, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, said Iran is welcome, but that it may not be safe for them to play in the U.S. “for their own well-being and security.”
In a statement posted on the X account of Iran’s embassy in Mexico, Mehdi Taj said: “Since Trump openly stated that he could not guarantee the safety of Iran’s national team, we will not go to the United States.”
“We are in discussions with FIFA to have Iran’s World Cup matches played in Mexico” He added.
FIFA has not yet commented on the remarks made by Iran’s football chief.
Iran qualified for the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time after finishing top of Group A in the Asian qualifiers.
The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Iran is in Group G and is set to face New Zealand and Belgium in matches scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, before concluding the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The country’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamal, had previously stated that nothing would prevent Iran from participating in the World Cup, even after the United States killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
