The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) is in negotiations to have its national team play its Group G matches at the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the Iranian embassy in the co-host country announced.
In a post on its website, the diplomatic mission stated that, given “the lack of cooperation from the US government in issuing visas and providing logistical support to Iran’s national football team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup,” Iranian ambassador Abolfazl Psedniddeh “suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches at the tournament be moved from the United States to Mexico.”
“We reiterate that the United States is not cooperating with us on the visa issue. We are interested in participating in the World Cup, but the US government is not providing the necessary logistical or administrative support,” Psedniddeh said in comments to state agency IRNA cited on the embassy’s website.
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“FIFA can intervene so that the Iranian national team can participate in the World Cup, but in Mexico. The Ministry of Sport and Youth of Iran will make the final decision on this matter,” he added. “We like the Mexican people very much and, for us, the best option is for our matches to take place in Mexico,” he said.
The Iranian representation’s X account also cited a statement from FFIRI president Mehdi Taj, in which he said that “since US president Donald Trump explicitly declared that he cannot guarantee the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to the United States. We are currently negotiating with FIFA for Iran’s World Cup matches to be held in Mexico.”
Last Thursday, Trump said Iran’s football team is “welcome” at the World Cup in the United States, but recommended it not participate “for its own safety.” The comment came a day after Iran’s sports minister Ahman Donyamali said there are “no conditions” for his country to participate in the tournament, following the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli offensive launched on February 28.
“After the corrupt government assassinated our leader, there are no conditions that allow us to participate in the World Cup,” the minister said, adding: “They imposed two wars on us in eight or nine months, and thousands of our citizens have died.”
Iran is in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. The team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, is scheduled to open against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, face Belgium on June 21 in the same Californian city, and play their final group match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
