Iran has intensified talks with FIFA over a possible relocation of its opening 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Officials of the Iranian Football Federation said discussions were underway with world football’s governing body over staging the team’s Group G fixtures in Mexico rather than the United States, where Iran is currently scheduled to play all three opening matches.
Under the current tournament schedule, Iran is set to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before taking on Egypt in Seattle, with the team’s training camp planned for Tucson, Arizona.
Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said player safety remained central to the request, insisting the team would not travel to the United States without firm security guarantees.
The concerns come amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, a development that has cast uncertainty over the country’s World Cup logistics and raised questions about whether the original schedule can proceed unchanged.
Iran’s embassy in Mexico also confirmed that the proposal had been formally presented to FIFA, while raising concerns over travel documentation and visa cooperation.
However, FIFA has yet to publicly endorse any relocation plan and has previously signalled that the tournament schedule remains unchanged.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation adds a new layer of complexity to the expanded 48-team tournament, particularly given the commercial and logistical implications of moving already scheduled fixtures.
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