FIFA has ruled out relocating Iran’s World Cup fixtures from the US to Mexico, despite Tehran’s concerns over player safety amid ongoing conflict.
Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, said the team would not travel to America after President Donald Trump admitted he could not guarantee their security. Taj claimed talks were under way to shift games to Mexico.
But FIFA confirmed all matches will proceed as scheduled, with Iran set to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle this June.
The dispute highlights how geopolitics continues to shape global sport, echoing recent relocations of Belarusian football and India-Pakistan cricket fixtures.
For Iran, the choice remains stark: play in the US or withdraw from the tournament.
