Iran lobbies FIFA to move World Cup matches from U.S. to Mexico

FIFA is refusing to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico, despite public lobbying from the Islamic republic’s soccer federation.

Iran has threatened to pull its men’s team from the international tournament that begins in June. 

Earlier Tuesday, officials from the Iranian embassy in Mexico City said they were “negotiating” with FIFA and the Mexican government to play their planned group stage games outside of the U.S. 

But FIFA officials quashed the idea.

“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including [the Islamic Republic of] Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” a spokesperson for the organization said in a statement. “FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on Dec. 6, 2025.”

The United States is hosting the World Cup in partnership with Canada and Mexico, though Iran’s three planned group stage matches were all expected to be played in the U.S.

Last week, President Trump said the Iranian players would be welcome, despite the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East. However, he cautioned the athletes against participating. 

“I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Iranian officials — in various public comments over the past two weeks — have agreed.

“Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader and created extreme insecurity, we cannot participate in the World Cup,” Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Iranian state television last week. “The players have no safety, and the conditions for participation simply don’t exist.”

But Iran has not officially withdrawn from the competition, which is often the most-watched sporting event in the world. The negotiations to move Iran’s first three matches to Mexico are the nation’s latest attempt to keep its World Cup dreams alive. 

“We love the Mexican people very much and for us, the best situation is for our games to be held in Mexico,” Iran’s Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh said, according to state-run news agency IRNA.

The embassy later said in a statement that it was “negotiating with FIFA.” Mexican officials have not publicly commented on the discussions.

Iran is slated to play in Group G. They’d open the group stage with a match against New Zealand in Southern California on June 15 before facing Belgium at the same venue — SoFi Stadium — on June 21. They’d end the round-robin face with a match against Egypt — which was originally designated as an LGBT Pride game — on June 26. 

The Iranian squad was originally expected to set up a training camp in Tucson, Arizona. 

The groups and schedule for the 48-team tournament were finalized through a random draw in December.

Moving the three matches would create a logistical nightmare for fans, host cities and FIFA. Thousands of tickets have been sold for the events, with countless spectators expected to fly into the selected cities for the matches.

Estadio Azteca is the only Mexican venue expected to host World Cup matches. It will already be used for Group A and Group K matches on June 11, 17, and 24. 

Any change would also serve as a purely temporary solution. If Iran advanced beyond the group stage, they’d be scheduled to play a knockout round match in the U.S. The top team from Group G would play a Round of 32 match in Seattle, while the group’s runner-up would play in Arlington, Texas. 

Iran could have a chance at playing an elimination match in Vancouver if they finished in third place, but that outcome would be highly dependent on other results from across the tournament. 

“By trying to move the match schedule, you actually create more problems down the track,” Andrew Pragnell, the chief executive of New Zealand’s soccer federation, told media outlet Stuff on Monday. “I don’t think it’ll happen.”

Iran has qualified for each of the last four World Cups. The team, currently ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA, failed to qualify for the knockout round each time. 

— This article is based in part on wire service reports.