Iran Seeks Venue Change for FIFA World Cup 2026

March 17, 2026

New Delhi: Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is under uncertainty as its football federation is in talks with FIFA to shift its scheduled matches in the United States to Mexico due to security concerns.

Security Concerns Remain the Reason

Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj stated that the team’s security is the biggest issue. He stated that they are in talks with FIFA about moving their matches to Mexico due to a lack of security guarantees in the United States.

Impact of Geopolitical Tensions

This situation has arisen due to increased tensions following the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran in 2026. This has raised questions about Iran’s participation. Former US President Donald Trump also stated that the team is welcome, but their security is a sensitive issue.

Uncertainty Remains Over Participation

Iran easily qualified for the 48-team tournament and was the first Asian country to secure a spot. According to the current schedule, its matches were scheduled to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, if the situation worsens, there is a possibility of withdrawing from the tournament, but the Asian Football Confederation has stated that it has not yet received any official information.