Iran push for 2026 World Cup participation while seeking matches outside the US

The Iran national football team have reaffirmed their determination to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite rising political tensions involving the host nation.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, confirmed that discussions are ongoing with FIFA over the possibility of relocating Iran’s matches from the United States to Mexico.

“When (US President Donald) Trump explicitly stated that he could not guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team, we certainly will not travel to America,” Taj said. He added, “We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”

The comments follow earlier remarks by Donald Trump, who stated that Iran would be allowed to participate in the tournament but suggested it might not be suitable for the team to play matches in the United States due to safety concerns.

Tensions have further escalated following recent military developments involving the US and Israel, which Iranian officials say have made participation under current conditions increasingly complex.

Despite the uncertainty, Iran have already secured qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11.

As it stands, Iran are scheduled to play two of their group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, although the final arrangements may depend on the outcome of ongoing talks with FIFA.