Iranian football officials are working with FIFA to relocate their upcoming World Cup matches away from the United States and into Mexico, citing player safety concerns, according to statements made Monday by Iran’s football federation president Mehdi Taj.
The push for relocation comes after President Donald Trump indicated last week that while Iran could participate in the tournament, it may not be suitable for their team to compete on American soil due to safety considerations.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj stated in a message posted on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X social media account.
“We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico,” he added.
FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the proposed venue changes.
Questions surrounding Iran’s tournament participation have intensified amid ongoing military conflicts involving one of the host nations. The international soccer championship is set to begin June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Iran originally scheduled for two group stage games in Los Angeles and another in Seattle.
Iran’s sports minister indicated last week that Iranian athletes could not compete in the tournament following U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Tehran that resulted in the death of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.
Should Iran officially withdraw, it would mark the first such departure in the tournament’s modern history and would require FIFA to quickly identify a replacement team.
The Asian Football Confederation stated Monday that they have not been formally notified of any Iranian withdrawal from the competition.
“At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John explained to reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
