Fifa will not agree to move Iran’s World Cup matches from US to Mexico

Iran are due to play World Cup group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Iran are due to play World Cup group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Iran FA president said negotiations being held with Fifa
Trump said Iran should not play for their ‘life and safety’
Fifa is unwilling to switch Iran’s World Cup matches to Mexico despite the country’s football federation claiming it is in discussions with the world governing body about moving their games outside the United States.

Iran are due to play two fixtures in Los Angeles and one in Seattle but their participation in the tournament has been placed in doubt by the US’s joint airstrikes on the country with Israel.

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Donald Trump said last week that the “life and safety” of Iran’s players could be at risk if they travel to the United States, which led to the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) making overtures about relocating games to Mexico.

There were reports in the Wall Street Journal last weekend that Iran had approached Fifa about such a move, and the president of the IFF, Mehdi Taj, appeared to confirm the talks by posting on the X account of the Iranian embassy in Mexico: “We are negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”
Fifa said in response: “Fifa is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the Fifa World Cup 2026 .

Fifa is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced.”
Several sources at Fifa pointed out that moving Iran’s matches would inconvenience other countries and cause commercial problems because tickets have been sold and global broadcast schedules and sponsorship deals agreed.

Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand are Iran’s opponents in Group G.

In another complicating factor Iran would meet the USA in the last 32 in Dallas if they finish as runners-up in their respective groups.

One source offered the view that the US and Iran appeared to be engaged in a game of brinkmanship, with each attempting to create the conditions to force a withdrawal they can blame on their opponents, with Fifa caught in the middle.

Fifa is unlikely to make a final decision on Iran until its congress in Vancouver on 30 April, with its official position remaining that it wants them to take part.

Fifa has the sole power to decide which country would replace Iran if they do not take part, in what would be the first occurrence of a World Cup withdrawal post-draw since 1950.

Iraq are the next highest-ranked Asian team not to have qualified so would appear to be in line to step in if they do not come through an interconfederation playoff against Bolivia or Suriname at the end of this month.

The United Arab Emirates would be the most likely beneficiaries if Iraq do qualify.

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