The FIFA ha discarded the possibility that the selection of Iran moves its 2026 World Cup matches to Mexicoafter the proposal from the Asian group to the organizationstating that he “expects” the teams to compete according to the original schedule.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumstated this Tuesday that the country is willing to host Iran’s matches in the 2026 World Cup due to its difficulties in playing in the United States, a possibility that FIFA does not seem willing to contemplate.
The Mexican president accepted the offer of President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Tajwho had stated that he was “negotiating” with FIFA to move the Iranian national team’s matches outside the United States, as a measure following the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory.
However, a FIFA spokesperson stated that FIFA maintains “regular contact” with all federations participating member, including the Iranian Football Federationto discuss planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but that “expects” all participating teams to compete “according to the schedule of matches announced on December 6, 2025″.
If FIFA maintains this position, it seems Iran likely to be forced to withdraw. Iran plans to dispute its three group stage matches in the United Statesante New Zealand in Los Angeles June 15against Belgium in Atlanta on the 21st of the same monthand against Egypt in Seattle June 26.
Additionally, if both Iran and the United States finished second in their respective groups, both teams would meet in the round of 32.
Iran works on the Mexico option
The Iranian embassy in Mexican territory reported on Monday that Ffiri is carrying out negotiations for its national team to play its matches corresponding to the group G of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico.
On its website (mexico.mfa.gov.ir), the diplomatic legation assured that “in reference to the lack of cooperation from the US government in the Issuing visas and providing logistical support to Iran’s national soccer team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Abolfazl Psedniddeh (Iranian ambassador to Mexico) suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches in that event be moved from the United States to Mexico.”
“We reiterate that the United States does not cooperate with us on the issue of visas. We are interested in attending the World Cup, but the US government does not provide the necessary logistical or administrative support,” Psedniddeh stressed in statements to the state agency IRNA cited by the embassy website.
“FIFA can intervene so that the Iranian national team can participate in the World Cup, but in Mexico. The “Ministry of Sports and Youth of Iran will be the one who makes the final decision in this regard.”added Psedniddeh, who stated: “We love the Mexican people very much and, for us, the best option is for our games to be held in Mexico.”
Last Thursday, Trump assured that the Iranian soccer team is “welcome”“in the World Cup in the United States, but He was recommended not to participate for “his own safety.”
For its part, the Iranian embassy in Mexico published a message on X on Tuesday with statements from the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Taj. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian team, we certainly will not travel to the United States. We are currently negotiating with FIFA for Iran’s World Cup matches to be held in Mexico,” Taj said.
