Iran Pursues FIFA Negotiations to Transfer World Cup Fixtures to Mexico
Iran's embassy in Mexico has indicated that the nation is actively engaging in discussions with FIFA to relocate Iran's World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. This move follows statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed reservations about the Iranian team's participation in the tournament due to safety issues.
Uncertainty Surrounds FIFA's Response
It remains unclear whether these negotiations are officially taking place with FIFA, as the global football governing body has not provided an immediate comment on the matter. Previously, Iranian officials have emphasized that ensuring the safety of the team during the World Cup is the responsibility of FIFA and the United States as co-hosts.
The embassy released a statement attributed to Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian soccer federation, asserting that Iran aims to move its group stage matches to Mexico to guarantee the security of players and officials. "When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," the statement declared. "We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."
World Cup Hosting and Schedule Details
The upcoming World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is slated to play against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before concluding group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26. Transferring these games less than three months before the tournament's commencement would be an unprecedented action in World Cup history.
Last week, Trump remarked that while the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cup despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, "I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."
Mixed Signals from Iran on Participation
Iran has conveyed conflicting messages regarding its involvement in the tournament after recent attacks by the U.S. and Israel resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated on state television last week that participation was not feasible "due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran."
However, following Trump's comments, the national team posted on Instagram that "no one can exclude" it from the competition. A government spokesman in Tehran reiterated that FIFA and the U.S., as a co-host nation, must ensure player safety. "FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup," said Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei. "When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event."
Iran's Football Passion and Global Standing
Soccer enjoys immense popularity in Iran, a country with over 90 million inhabitants that has qualified for seven men's World Cups, including the last four consecutive editions. The team holds a FIFA world ranking of No. 20, making it the second-highest ranked team from Asia, trailing only Japan.
FIFA has remained largely silent in recent days, aside from an Instagram post by president Gianni Infantino last week, in which he noted receiving assurances from Trump that Iran was welcome at the tournament. The situation continues to evolve as diplomatic and sporting negotiations unfold.
