The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has officially confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will proceed exactly as per the schedule announced previously. This decision effectively denies the Iranian Football Federation’s request to relocate its matches from the United States to Mexico, a plea made in light of ongoing regional conflicts and heightened security concerns.
In a formal statement, FIFA reiterated its unwavering commitment to the original tournament plan, emphasizing that it is in regular communication with all participating member associations, including Iran. The global football governing body underlined its expectation for all qualified teams to compete as scheduled, following the comprehensive fixture list that was originally unveiled on December 6, 2025.
The backdrop to Iran’s request is the heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Following a reported joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory on February 28, 2026, the prospect of Iran’s national team participating in World Cup matches on US soil was deemed highly vulnerable by Iranian authorities. In a previous statement, US President Donald Trump had indicated a welcome for Iran to compete in the United States, yet concurrently expressed reservations, stating that he did not believe it would be appropriate for their life and safety to be present there.
Responding directly to President Trump’s remarks, the Iranian Football Federation affirmed via social media that no entity could legitimately exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup tournament. On March 16, 2026, Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, publicly stated: “When Mr. Trump made it clear that he could not guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team, we absolutely will not travel to the United States.” He further disclosed that the federation was actively engaged in discussions with FIFA, seeking to organize Iran’s World Cup matches to be played in Mexico instead of the US.
Echoing these concerns, Iran’s Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, on March 16, 2026, publicly criticized what he described as a lack of cooperation from the United States concerning visa processing and logistical support for the Iranian delegation.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11 and conclude on July 19. This landmark event will be co-hosted across three North American nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. As per the current Group G fixture list, Iran is slated to play its initial matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles. Their subsequent group stage encounter is set to be against Egypt in Seattle. All these specified matches for Iran are currently scheduled to take place within the United States.
