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Iran’s shot federation is “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s first-round matches astatine the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the struggle successful West Asia, Iran’s embassy successful Mexico said connected Monday (March 16, 2026).
Iran’s information astatine this summer’s finals successful the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into uncertainty since the warfare began precocious past month.
“When (U.S. President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that helium cannot guarantee the information of the Iranian nationalist team, we volition surely not question to America,” Iranian shot main Mehdi Taj said successful remarks posted connected the embassy’s X account.
“We are presently negotiating with FIFA to clasp Iran’s matches successful the World Cup successful Mexico.”
Iran are scheduled to look New Zealand and Belgium successful Los Angeles, followed by Egypt successful Seattle.
The team’s basal campy for the tourney is presently slated to beryllium located successful Tucson, Arizona.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, connected Monday denounced “the US government’s deficiency of practice regarding visa issuance and the proviso of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation up of the World Cup, successful a connection published connected the embassy’s website.
He added that helium had besides “suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches beryllium moved from the United States to Mexico.”
FIFA did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from AFP.
Donald Trump triggered uproar past week aft stating that portion Iran’s shot squad would beryllium “welcome” successful the United States, they should not question to the tourney “for their ain beingness and safety.”
Trump’s comments came aft FIFA president Gianni Infantino had fixed assurances that Trump had promised him that the Iranian squad would beryllium welcome.
Iran deed backmost astatine Trump’s comments saying “no 1 tin exclude Iran’s nationalist squad from the World Cup.”
Iran’s spot astatine the tourney was thrown into question aft the United States and Israel launched a monolithic violative against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets crossed West Asia.
