Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran’s football federation has opened talks with FIFA to shift its first-round World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico, the Iranian embassy in Mexico City confirmed on Monday. The request, attributed to mounting regional tensions stemming from the Middle East conflict, could redraw the tournament’s early-stage calendar if approved by world football’s governing body. Embassy officials offered no timeline for the discussions and did not specify which matches would be affected, but the statement marks the first public acknowledgment that Tehran is actively pursuing a venue change. FIFA has yet to comment publicly on the proposal.