FIFA Rejects Iran's Request to Move US World Cup Matches Amid Security Concerns

Zurich. Amid political and military tensions, the world of sports is heating up ahead of the FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 this year. FIFA has rejected the proposal made by Iran to move its matches scheduled in the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns for its players.

FIFA issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that all participating nations will compete according to the predetermined schedule announced in December 2025. The Iranian Football Federation had raised serious questions about the security of its players due to the ongoing military tensions between Iran and the US, as well as the Israel-Iran war.

Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, had stated that they would not visit the US because US President Donald Trump had made remarks suggesting he could not guarantee the security of the Iranian team. Although he claimed to be in talks with FIFA to host Iran's matches in Mexico, FIFA maintained its stance that the schedule would not change.

Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 16, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 27, with two matches set to take place in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

The root of the dispute has become the recent remarks by US President Trump. While Trump welcomed Iran to the World Cup, he also stated that it would not be appropriate for them to be present there for their own safety and security.

Iran has taken this as a threat. Iran's Ministry of Sports stated that the current situation is not conducive for participation in the World Cup, while the official Telegram channel of the Iranian team demanded that the host nation, which cannot provide security, should be removed from the competition.

This dispute between two countries caught in the grip of war has once again pitted sports against politics. Although FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously stated that he received assurances from Trump during their conversation that Iran would be welcomed to compete, the Iranian side remains unconvinced.

Iran, which qualified for the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time, had decided last year not to withdraw from the competition even when the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. However, the current direct military confrontation and security sensitivities have cast uncertainty over Iran's World Cup journey.

BBC