Iran may relocate its 2026 World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico over safety concerns amid rising geopolitical tensions

Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup faces fresh uncertainty as the Iranian Football Federation explores relocating its matches from the United States to Mexico due to safety concerns arising from escalating geopolitical tensions.

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Federation president Mehdi Taj indicated that the national team would not play in the U.S. if player security cannot be assured.

The tournament, set to run from June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, originally scheduled Iran to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Shifting these fixtures to Mexico would require substantial logistical adjustments, potentially affecting venues, schedules, and travel arrangements for teams and fans.

Taj’s remarks follow comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that while Iran could participate, hosting their matches on American soil may be inappropriate under current conditions.

Relocating sporting events due to political and security issues is not unprecedented.

European qualifiers and cricket fixtures between India and Pakistan have previously been moved to neutral venues amid regional tensions.

If FIFA rejects Iran’s request, participation in the U.S. appears unlikely.

Iranian officials have suggested that competing under current circumstances may not be feasible.

Such a withdrawal would be a rare occurrence in modern World Cup history and could necessitate a replacement team on short notice.

Despite these concerns, the Asian Football Confederation stated that it has not received any formal notice of withdrawal.

AFC General Secretary Windsor John confirmed that, as of now, Iran remains committed to competing.

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With weeks to go before kickoff, uncertainty persists, leaving tournament organisers, teams, and fans awaiting clarity on whether Iran will compete—and where their matches will ultimately be staged.