Mexican President Sheinbaum said FIFA has no intention of moving Iran’s matches from the United States, despite repeated requests.
Published April 12, 2026
FIFA has rejected Iran’s request to move World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing logistical obstacles, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed.
Last month, the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) asked the sport’s international governing body to move matches outside the United States, but FIFA said all World Cup matches would go ahead as scheduled and ruled out Mexico hosting the Iranian team.
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Scheinbaum reiterated FIFA’s position on Friday, saying the games will be held in the United States as scheduled.
“FIFA has ultimately decided that the match cannot be moved from its original venue,” Sheinbaum said at a press conference in Mexico City.
“This decision was taken by FIFA because (the relocation) would be too logistically complex,” she said.
FIFA did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment regarding confirmation of Iran’s match venue.
The United States and Israel began a war with Iran on February 28, and on the first day, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and 168 others were killed at a girls’ school.
The Iranian government responded by attacking Israeli and U.S. military bases in the Middle East with missiles and drones.
A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire halted attacks on Iran and the Gulf region on Wednesday, but Israel continues to attack parts of Lebanon.
Iran competed for a spot from the Asian Confederation and became one of the first countries to qualify for the World Cup.
Team Melli is in Group G of the tournament alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and all group games are scheduled to be played on the West Coast of the United States, with two games scheduled to be played in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26).
Mexico, which co-hosts the World Cup with the United States and Canada, had expressed interest in hosting the Iran match, but Sheinbaum’s recent comments reaffirmed the position of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who met with Iranian soccer players, coaches and officials in Turkiye on March 31.
“Depending on the draw, the match will be played at the scheduled location,” Infantino said while watching a friendly between Iran and Costa Rica.
Infantino also allayed fears that Iran would not take part in the next World Cup at all after FFIRI president Mehdi Taj said Iran would “boycott” matches in the United States.
“Iran will be in the World Cup. … That’s why we’re here,” Infantino said in Mexico.
Infantino, whose attendance at the friendly had not been announced, added: “I saw the team and talked to the players and coaches, so there is nothing wrong with me.”
Last month, FFIRI expressed concern for the safety and security of its players in the United States after President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post that it was not appropriate for Iran to participate in the World Cup “for its own life and safety.”
Taj told President Trump: “If President Trump makes it clear that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team, we will definitely not go to the United States.”
The two countries have since exchanged indirect verbal blows on the issue, with the latest comments from Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali. Unless FIFA moves the match venue, the country’s participation in the World Cup will be uncertain.
