FIFA has ruled out plans to move Iran’s matches away from the United States ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026.
This follows concerns raised by Iranian officials over player safety amid escalating tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, had earlier revealed that discussions were ongoing with FIFA to relocate the country’s matches to Mexico. The move, he said, was aimed at protecting players after recent military exchanges involving Iran, Israel, and US-allied states.
However, FIFA has now made its position clear.
More Read
In an official statement released on Tuesday, the global football body said it expects all participating nations to play according to the already announced schedule.
“FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025,” a spokesperson confirmed.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, running from June 11 to July 19.
More Read
Iran is currently scheduled to play:
-
New Zealand on June 16 in Los Angeles
-
Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles
-
Egypt on June 27 in Seattle
The situation escalated after comments from Donald Trump, who stated that while Iran is welcome at the tournament, it may not be “appropriate” for them to attend due to security concerns.
In response, Mehdi Taj warned that Iran could reconsider participation if safety guarantees are not assured.
Despite these concerns, FIFA’s latest statement signals that no changes will be made, reinforcing its commitment to the existing tournament plan.
