Fifa Talks Over Iran Matches In Mexico Spark World Cup Schedule Uncertainty
Iran’s embassy in Mexico said Monday that the national football federation is negotiating with fifa to relocate the country’s group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup from the United States to Mexico, citing the conflict in the Middle East and concerns about the safety and logistical support for the delegation.
Iran Pushes To Move Group-Stage Games
The embassy’s statement said the federation sought to move the team’s three first-round matches to Mexico after public comments by the U. S. president about security for the Iranian players. The federation president posted remarks on the embassy’s account saying that, with those concerns, Iran would not travel to the United States unless guarantees were provided.
The matches in question are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle, with the team’s planned training base listed in Tucson, Arizona. The Iranian ambassador in Mexico denounced the U. S. government’s lack of cooperation on visas and logistical support for the delegation, urging that Mexico host the fixtures.
Fifa Response And Tournament Schedule
Fifa has said it is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, and is looking forward to all teams competing the match schedule announced on Dec. 6, 2025. The governing body has not publicly acknowledged the embassy’s claim that negotiations are under way to move Iran’s matches, and it indicated that unprecedented changes to the match schedule are not planned.
The embassy statement asserted that talks with fifa were ongoing. At the same time, the organizing framework for the tournament remains the match schedule already issued and accepted by participating associations.
Logistics, Tickets And Feasibility Questions
Observers and officials have highlighted the practical difficulties of shifting fixtures less than three months before the tournament. Tens of thousands of tickets have been sold for Iran’s scheduled games, and opposing teams have raised concerns about the feasibility of relocating matches on short notice.
One national federation chief executive said he did not foresee it as remotely feasible to move scheduled games to another country. The prospect of shifting Iran’s fixtures to Mexico would require significant logistical changes and adjustments for fans, teams and organizers that are not currently part of the approved plan.
Conflicting Signals And Tournament Stakes
The situation has unfolded against the backdrop of recent military strikes in the region and public statements about the safety of Iranian players in the United States. Iranian officials have variously suggested that the U. S. is unable or unwilling to ensure secure arrival and accommodation for the delegation, while other governing bodies have noted they had not received formal notification of a withdrawal.
The Asian Football Confederation said it had not been notified that Iran would withdraw from the event. One confederation official emphasized that it is ultimately for the national federation to decide whether it will participate, and that, at present, the federation has indicated it plans to go to the World Cup.
What Comes Next
At present, the key confirmed developments are the embassy’s public call for matches to be moved to Mexico and fifa’s statement that the announced match schedule remains the framework for the tournament. Uncertainties remain about whether negotiations will produce a change and what operational steps would be required if they did.
Organizers, the federation and the teams involved face a short timeline to resolve the matter ahead of the tournament, and further announcements from the federation or fifa would be needed to clarify whether any changes to venues or schedules will occur.
