FIFA rejects Iran request to move 2026 World Cup matches to Mexico
Background to Iran request
According to The Athletic, Iran has been in discussions with Fifa about relocating its group stage matches from the United States to Mexico. The request was linked to comments attributed to Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, who said the team would avoid traveling to the United States over security concerns.
Those concerns followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested he could not guarantee the safety of the Iranian team during the tournament.
FIFA maintains original schedule
Fifa has made clear that it does not plan to alter the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025. The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will proceed with fixtures held in their assigned venues.
Iran is currently scheduled to play group stage matches in Los Angeles against Belgium and New Zealand, and in Seattle against Egypt.
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Official response from FIFA
A Fifa spokesperson told The Athletic that discussions with participating nations are ongoing, but do not extend to changing match locations.
“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”
The governing body’s position signals that logistical planning remains fixed despite external concerns.
Reactions and wider context
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said the issue is not a logistical challenge for Mexico, but ultimately a decision for FIFA.
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“When the time is right we’ll make an announcement,” she said. “Mexico has relations with every country. Let’s see what FIFA decides and we’ll inform the public.”
New Zealand, one of Iran’s scheduled opponents, told The Athletic it is continuing preparations under the current plan and remains in contact with Fifa.
“At this point in time we are preparing to play Iran in LA in our opening game and will continue to plan for this until we hear otherwise,” the federation said.
The situation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have added complexity to tournament planning.
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Impact on tournament preparations
The episode highlights the challenges of organizing a World Cup across multiple host nations while balancing political, security and logistical considerations. Despite the uncertainty, Fifa appears determined to avoid changes that could disrupt planning for teams, venues and organizers.
With the schedule confirmed, participating nations are expected to continue preparations based on the existing framework.
Sources: The Athletic
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