Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA about relocating their 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing concerns over player safety, Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.

The uncertainty comes after the United States, one of the tournament co-hosts, carried out joint air strikes with Israel on Iranian territory, casting doubt on the national team’s participation.

Taj wrote on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X account:
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America. We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”

FIFA has not confirmed any changes. A spokesperson told Reuters:
“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA looks forward to all teams competing as per the schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed during a press conference that Mexico would have no issues hosting Iran’s matches if FIFA approves the request.

Logistical Challenges

Iran earned a spot at a fourth consecutive World Cup by topping their group in the third round of Asian qualifying last year. The tournament is set to begin on June 11 across the US, Mexico, and Canada, with Iran scheduled to play two group games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Their Group G opponents are Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.

Shifting Iran’s fixtures to Mexico would represent a major logistical adjustment, though moving matches for security or geopolitical reasons is not unprecedented. For example, in September last year, Scotland played a World Cup qualifying match against Belarus in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, after UEFA ruled against using Belarus as a venue due to its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In cricket, India and Pakistan often face off at neutral venues due to strained political relations.

Federation Decision

If FIFA declines the venue switch, it is unlikely that Iran would travel to the US amid ongoing hostilities. Iran’s sports minister recently stated that participation was impossible after the US-led airstrikes, which reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader. An official withdrawal would mark a first in the modern era, leaving FIFA with the task of finding a replacement.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Monday that it has not received any formal withdrawal notice. AFC General Secretary Windsor John said in Kuala Lumpur:
“At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup.”