Iran ‘negotiating’ with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy
Iran is negotiating with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns and lack of logistical support. The Iranian football federation claims that U.S. President Donald Trump cannot guarantee the safety of their team.
Why it matters
The intersection of geopolitical conflict and international sports hosting creates significant logistical and diplomatic challenges for global events.
Iran’s football federation is “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in West Asia, Iran’s embassy in Mexico said on Monday (March 16, 2026).
The article reports on the claims made by both Iranian officials and U.S. political figures without endorsing either side's narrative.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in