Iran’s football federation is negotiating with FIFA to relocate its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. Federation president Mehdi Taj cited safety concerns after U.S.-led airstrikes against Iran-and President Donald Trump’s public statement that he could not guarantee the Iranian team’s security in America.
Iran has qualified for the 48-team tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Its scheduled group-stage matches are set for Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran’s sports minister previously declared participation in the U.S. impossible following the strikes, which targeted senior leadership in Tehran.