In the latest news regarding the uncertainty of Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) announced discussions with FIFA, the tournament’s organizing body, to move Iran’s group stage matches from the U.S. to venues in Mexico in light of the ongoing war.
“When [U.S. President Donald] Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the federation’s president Mehdi Taj said Monday in remarks posted to the X account of Iran's embassy in Mexico. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
