Iran is negotiating with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns.
Iran is negotiating with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, according to a statement shared by the country’s embassy in Mexico. The post attributed the information to Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj.
Taj reportedly said the national team would not travel to the United States because President Donald Trump had indicated he could not guarantee the team’s security. Iran is instead “negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico”.
Iran had been scheduled to play group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle during the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The uncertainty comes amid rising tensions following recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.