FIFA rejects Iran's push to move World Cup matches out of US to Mexico

The 2026 World Cup volition instrumentality spot arsenic scheduled, FIFA announced Tuesday aft the Iranian ambassador and embassy successful Mexico City claimed the state was negotiating with FIFA to determination Iran’s 3 group-stage matches retired of the U.S.

In a connection obtained by The Associated Press, FIFA said it is successful "regular contact" with each countries competing successful the upcoming tournament, which volition mostly instrumentality spot successful the U.S., but said the matches volition instrumentality spot arsenic antecedently determined. 

Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates aft scoring a extremity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled betwixt Iran and Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium connected March 25, 2025, successful Tehran, Iran. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)

"FIFA is successful regular interaction with each participating subordinate associations, including (the Islamic Republic of) Iran, to sermon readying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA is looking guardant to each participating teams competing arsenic per the lucifer docket announced connected 6 December 2025."

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Iran is scheduled to play successful Inglewood, California, against New Zealand connected June 16 and Belgium connected June 21 earlier finishing radical play against Egypt successful Seattle connected June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tourney with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh urged FIFA to determination the team’s games to Mexico successful comments posted Monday connected the embassy website. He reportedly said that the "best situation" for Iran would beryllium to determination the team’s games to Mexico. 

FIFA’s connection Tuesday ended speculation that determination would beryllium immoderate adjustments to the schedule, including lucifer locations. 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks arsenic (L-R) the erstwhile Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio perceive during a gathering with the White House Task Force connected the FIFA World Cup 2026 successful the Oval Office of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)

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President Donald Trump said successful a Truth Social station past week that Iran would beryllium invited to vie successful the World Cup but that it mightiness not beryllium "appropriate" arsenic the struggle successful the Middle East continues. 

"The Iran National Soccer Team is invited to The World Cup, but I truly don’t judge it is due that they beryllium there, for their ain beingness and safety," helium said.

Trump was indifferent the erstwhile week erstwhile asked astir Iran’s information successful the World Cup, telling Politico, "I truly don’t care." 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino besides said past week that Trump "reiterated" to him successful their caller talks that Iran’s shot squad would beryllium "welcome to compete" successful the U.S.

Players of Iran observe aft the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled betwixt Iran and Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium connected March 25, 2025, successful Tehran, Iran. Iran's nationalist shot squad celebrated aft securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 gully against Uzbekistan. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)

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"We each request an lawsuit similar the FIFA World Cup to bring radical unneurotic present much than ever, and I sincerely convey the President of the United States for his support, arsenic it shows erstwhile again that Football Unites the World," helium said successful a station connected Instagram. 

Previous remarks from Iran’s sports curate person formed uncertainty connected the country’s participation, but the men’s shot squad released a connection Thursday saying that "no 1 tin exclude" the squad from competing, and urged FIFA and the U.S. to guarantee the team’s safety.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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