Iran is in talks with FIFA about moving its 2026 World Cup group-stage matches out of the United States and into Mexico, after Iranian football officials said the team’s safety could not be guaranteed amid the sharp escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The issue has opened up an extraordinary dispute less than three months before the tournament is due to begin across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Iran already scheduled to play two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
The concern centres on the fallout from recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the wider political and military crisis that has followed. Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said his organisation was in discussions with FIFA about relocating the fixtures, arguing that the United States was no longer an appropriate venue for his country’s team. According to Reuters, Taj said the issue was driven by the inability to guarantee the security of players and staff, with Iran seeking to shift those games to Mexico instead.
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup from Asia and was placed in Group G at the finals draw, where it was scheduled to face Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Under the existing tournament plan, Iran’s group matches are due to be staged entirely in US cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle. The World Cup itself is set to run from 11 June to 19 July and will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, making this the first men’s tournament to be shared by three nations.
