Iran to FIFA on World Cup 2026: Move matches to Mexico, and we’ll be there

March 17, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

The growing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is now spilling into the world of football, raising serious questions about whether politics can be separated from global sport. According to Reuters, as reported by Al Jazeera and Digi24, Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA about relocating its matches from the US to Mexico.

This situation highlights a broader issue: when international tensions escalate, major sporting events often become entangled in diplomacy, security concerns, and symbolic politics.

Negotiations with fifa

Iran’s football federation has opened discussions with FIFA about changing the locations of its matches at the 2026 World Cup.

According to Reuters, federation president Mehdi Taj said in a statement shared by Iran’s embassy in Mexico that the goal is to move all of Iran’s matches to Mexico due to safety concerns.

Iran has already qualified for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11, 2026. The team is currently scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Notably, Iran was the first Asian nation to secure qualification, doing so on March 25, 2025, after a win over Uzbekistan.

From a sporting perspective, relocating matches could disrupt competitive balance, travel schedules, and fan access. But from a political standpoint, Iran’s request may be seen as unavoidable given the current climate.

Security concerns take center stage

Player safety is at the heart of Iran’s request.

US President Donald Trump recently stated that he could not guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team. According to Reuters, he also suggested it might not be appropriate for the team to play in the US “for their own life and safety.”

"Da Trump eksplicit har udtalt, at han ikke kan garantere det iranske landsholds sikkerhed, vil vi bestemt ikke rejse til Amerika. Vi forhandler i øjeblikket med FIFA om, at Irans VM-kampe skal afholdes i Mexico," said Mehdi Taj.

This raises an important question: if a host nation cannot ensure the safety of all participants, should it still host matches involving those teams? FIFA may now be forced to define where it stands on that issue.

Middle east conflict shapes decision

The sporting dilemma cannot be separated from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali has warned that participation in the tournament could become impossible following air attacks on Tehran in late February carried out by the United States and Israel.

Reports indicate that the strikes targeted key political and military sites. However, details about the full consequences, including leadership casualties, vary across sources and have not been independently confirmed in all cases.

The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, is now in its third week, adding further uncertainty to an already complex situation.

This development invites debate about whether global sporting bodies like FIFA can realistically remain neutral during active geopolitical conflicts, or whether neutrality itself becomes a political stance.

Fifa under growing pressure

It remains unclear whether FIFA will approve Iran’s request to move its matches to Mexico.

Any such decision would require significant logistical changes to a tournament already carefully planned across three host nations. Broadcasting schedules, stadium allocations, and travel arrangements could all be affected.

At the same time, the situation raises broader questions about the future of international tournaments. Should contingency plans for geopolitical crises become standard? And how far should organizations go to accommodate political realities without undermining the integrity of competition?

FIFA now faces a decision that goes beyond football, balancing safety, fairness, and political sensitivity on the world stage.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Digi24