Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA to relocate the country’s first-round World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Iranian embassy in Mexico said on Monday.
The nation’s participation in this summer’s tournament, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been uncertain since the outbreak of war late last month.
“When US President, Donald Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on the embassy’s X account.
“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle. The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently planned for Tucson, Arizona.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, criticised “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup. He added that he had “suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches be moved from the United States to Mexico.”
FIFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The situation escalated after Trump stated last week that while Iran’s football team would be “welcome” in the United States, they should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously said Trump assured him the Iranian team would be welcome.
Iran responded by insisting that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
Tensions intensified after the United States and Israel launched a major offensive against Iran, which retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory and US interests across the Middle East.
