FIFA has turned down Mexico’s proposal to host Iran’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly raised concerns about the nation’s participation.
The decision comes amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, creating uncertainty around the tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The situation intensified following reports of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike.
Iran’s sports minister has suggested the possibility of withdrawing from the competition, although no official decision has been made.
FIFA has maintained that Iran is still scheduled to play two of its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Mexico reportedly offered to host Iran’s matches in an effort to ease the situation.
The Iranian Football Association confirmed it had entered discussions over a possible venue change, but FIFA quickly rejected the proposal, insisting that the original match schedule would remain unchanged.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting that while Iran’s national team would be allowed to participate, their presence at the tournament might not be appropriate due to safety concerns.
It remains unclear whether Donald Trump was referring to the safety of players within Iran or while competing on U.S. soil. However, Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj interpreted the remarks as an indication that the United States could not guarantee the security of Iran’s players during the tournament.
As geopolitical tensions continue to spill into the sporting arena, Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 remains uncertain, even as FIFA maintains its firm stance on the tournament schedule.
