Iran is pushing to move its 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup matches out of the US.
Iran’s football chief, Mehdi Taj, said the country was in talks with world football’s governing body to relocate its games to Mexico, citing security concerns after remarks by US President Donald Trump.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in comments posted on the Iranian Embassy’s X account.
Trump warns of safety risks for players
The push follows comments by Trump last week on his Truth Social platform. He said that while Iranian players would be allowed to compete, he added it would not be “appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Iran’s sports minister has also previously suggested Iran could boycott this year’s tournament altogether amid ongoing joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran’s team is scheduled to play across US cities starting June 15Image: Sebastian Frej/IMAGO
Starting on June, the World Cup will be staged across the US, Mexico and Canada, with Iran currently scheduled to play across US stadiums.
Under current plans, Iran’s base camp would be in Tucson, Arizona, with its opening match against New Zealand set for the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
FIFA relocation unlikely, New Zealand execs say
New Zealand Football chief Andrew Pragnell told local media Tuesday he doubted FIFA would change the fixtures, while national coach Darren Bazeley said preparations remained unchanged.
“Right now, we’re preparing as if we’re playing Iran,” he said. “They qualified. We were drawn against them. And until we’re told otherwise, that’s the match.”
FIFA has not publicly commented on Iran’s request to relocate matches.
Iranian football under the spotlight
The uncertainty adds to headlines surrounding Iranian football in recent weeks. Previously, five of the seven women players granted asylum in Australia during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup reportedly chose to return to Iran.
The Iranian women’s soccer team did not sing the Iranian national anthem at their first match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in AustraliaImage: Izhar Khan/AFP/Getty Images
The offer followed a pre-match protest in which some players stayed silent during the national anthem — a gesture that prompted Iranian state television to label them “wartime traitors.”
Edited by: Rob Turner
