Iran has requested that its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches be moved from the US to Mexico.
Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, said, ‘When US President Donald Trump himself says it is not right for us to go to the US, we will not go,” adding that discussions are ongoing to relocate the matches.
Trump had recently suggested that, for security reasons, it would be better if the Iranian team skipped the US leg of the tournament.
US President Donald Trump had recently suggested that, for security reasons, it would be better if the Iranian team did not travel to the US.
Moving Iran’s matches outside the US would create logistical challenges for FIFA, and British media reports that it is unlikely the organisation will approve the request.
Nevertheless, FIFA stated that it is in contact with all member countries, including Iran, regarding the World Cup.
It should be noted that Iran recently announced it would not participate in the tournament. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Dunya Mali cited the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader by the US as the reason for the decision. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
It is mentioned that earlier Iran has announced that it would not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donya Mali, the decision was made in response to rising tensions with the United States.
Speaking to local media, the minister said that Iran could not justify sending its national team to compete in a tournament hosted in the United States under the current circumstances.
He stated that after what he described as the United States martyring Iran’s Supreme Leader, participation in the tournament was no longer possible. ‘There is no justification for participating in the World Cup under such conditions,’ he said, adding that the safety of Iranian players and delegation members could not be guaranteed.
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