Iran demand Fifa move 2026 World Cup matches to another country as they slam Donald Trump over ‘safety’ fears

Fifa has flatly rejected Iran’s request to relocate their 2026 World Cup group-stage fixtures from the United States to Mexico after Iranian officials cited safety concerns linked to comments made by US President Donald Trump.

The Iranian Football Association had publicly claimed it was “in negotiations” with world football’s governing body to switch the three Group G encounters – currently set for Los Angeles and Seattle – across the border, but senior Fifa sources insist no formal approach has been received and no talks are under way.

Iran, drawn alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, are scheduled to open their campaign at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 15 June 2026 before further fixtures in Seattle. Thousands of tickets for those matches have already been sold, complicating any late rejig of the 104-game schedule unveiled on 6 December 2025.

Tehran’s lobbying effort was spearheaded by ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Psedniddeh and Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran president Mehdi Taj. Both officials argue that Trump’s recent statement – that while Iran would be “welcome” at the tournament, he could not guarantee their “life and safety” – amounts to a breach of basic assurances required for visiting teams.

“We reiterate that the United States is not cooperating with us on the issue of visas,” Psedniddeh told reporters in Mexico City. “We are interested in attending the World Cup, but the US government is not providing the necessary logistical or administrative support. Fifa can intervene so that the Iranian national team can participate in the World Cup, but in Mexico. The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth will make the final decision. We love the Mexican people very much, and for us, the best option is for our games to be held in Mexico.”

Taj echoed the sentiment, saying: “Since the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has explicitly stated that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team, we certainly will not travel to the United States. We are currently negotiating with Fifa to have Iran’s World Cup matches held in Mexico.”

Fifa’s response was swift and unequivocal. A spokesperson told reporters: “Fifa is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the 2026 World Cup. Fifa is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”

Privately, tournament organisers point to the logistical impossibility of moving fixtures fewer than six months before kick-off. Only one knockout match – a possible England-United States last-16 tie – is pencilled in for Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, and infrastructure contracts, broadcast plans and ticketing allocations across the 16-host-city event are locked in.

There is also the prospect of an Iran-United States encounter later in the competition: if both nations finish second in their respective groups, they would meet in Dallas at the round-of-32 stage.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is understood to be keen to avoid the spectacle of a qualified team withdrawing, which would mark the first such absence since France and India opted out of the 1950 World Cup. For now, however, the governing body is holding the line: the matches stay in the United States, and Iran must decide whether to play or risk forfeiting their place on the sport’s biggest stage.