By Kwame Bediako
Iran‘s football federation is urgently negotiating with FIFA to shift its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing grave safety concerns for its players following recent US-Israel airstrikes on the country.
Iranian football president Mehdi Taj announced the discussions on Monday, March 16, 2026, emphasizing that the team will not risk traveling to America.
This move comes after US President Donald Trump stated last week that while Iran is welcome to participate, playing in the US might endanger their “life and safety.”
Taj shared the update via a post on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X account, underscoring the federation’s firm stance.
The geopolitical tensions have cast serious doubt over Iran’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran earned its spot in a fourth straight tournament by topping their group in Asian qualifying last year and faces Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G.
The team is slated to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, but escalating hostilities, sparked by the joint airstrikes, have prompted the relocation push.
FIFA has not yet responded to requests for comment, leaving the proposal’s fate uncertain as the tournament approaches.
Taj was unequivocal: “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America.”
Organizers for the Los Angeles and Seattle venues also remained silent outside US business hours.
The request highlights the intersection of sports and international conflict, with Iran’s participation now hanging in the balance just months before the June 11 kickoff.
Relocating matches for security or geopolitical reasons is not without precedent in global sports.
Last September, UEFA ruled that Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus must be played in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, near the Austrian and Slovenian borders due to Belarus’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a 2-0 Scottish victory.
Similarly, cricket rivals India and Pakistan, strained by political animosity, only meet at neutral venues in multi-team tournaments to avoid hosting disputes.
Shifting Iran’s fixtures to Mexico would demand significant logistical adjustments for the tournament’s organizing committees, but it could ensure the team’s safety and maintain competitive balance in Group G.
