FIFA confirms no move for Iran matches at World Cup 2026

Iran’s matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will not be moved from the United States to Mexico, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum said that FIFA ultimately decided that matches cannot be relocated from their original venues, as such a move would require enormous logistical efforts, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Earlier, President of the Football Federation of Iran Mehdi Taj stated on March 16 that, following remarks by US President Donald Trump about a lack of security guarantees for the Iranian team, Iran could not travel to the United States and was instead in talks with FIFA about hosting its matches in Mexico.

On March 17, the Mexican president expressed readiness to host Iran’s World Cup matches. However, the same day, The Times reported that FIFA would not relocate Iran’s matches to Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran has been drawn in a group with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with matches scheduled in Inglewood, California and Seattle, Washington.

By Jeyhun Aghazada