Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - FIFA has officially denied a request from the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran to move its 2026 World Cup group stage matches from the United States to Mexico.
The decision, confirmed by Mexican President Claudia
Sheinbaum, cites significant logistical impediments as the primary reason for
maintaining the original tournament structure.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has consistently reaffirmed
that there is no alternative plan for the venues and that all matches will
proceed according to the initial draw.
The request for relocation was driven by heightened
geopolitical tensions and safety concerns for Iranian players following a
series of public exchanges between Tehran and Washington. President Donald
Trump suggested on social media that Iran's participation might be a risk to
their own safety, leading Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali to warn that
the country’s participation remains uncertain unless the fixtures are moved.
Despite Mexico’s initial willingness to host the games as a
co-host of the tournament, FIFA determined that shifting the venues would make
the operational logistics too complicated to manage.
Iran is currently placed in Group G and is scheduled to face
New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by a final group-stage match
against Egypt in Seattle between June 15 and June 27.
While the verbal arguments between the two nations continue,
FIFA remains committed to the current schedule, which includes matches across
the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The governing body continues to
emphasize that the tournament will proceed as planned regardless of the
external political landscape.
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