FIFA rejects Iran request to move World Cup matches from US

FIFA has ruled out relocating Iran’s 2026 World Cup matches from the United States, shutting down a request that reflected broader political tensions rather than purely sporting concerns.

The decision was confirmed by Claudia Sheinbaum, who said FIFA concluded that moving the fixtures would be too complex.

“FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Sheinbaum said. “It [relocation] would make logistics too complicated, and this decision was taken by FIFA.”

Iran’s football authorities had pushed for a change last month, asking that their games be shifted to Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside the US and Canada. The request came amid heightened tensions following the US and Israel’s war on Iran, raising concerns in Tehran over player safety and political optics.

Despite those concerns, FIFA has stuck to the original tournament plan. President Gianni Infantino made clear that the draw — and the schedule — will stand.

“The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw,” Infantino said.

He also moved to calm speculation that Iran might withdraw altogether after officials in Tehran floated the idea of a boycott.

“Iran will be at the World Cup. … That’s why we’re here,” Infantino said. “I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.”

The dispute over venues is rooted in a wider geopolitical standoff. Iran had raised safety concerns after Donald Trump suggested it might not be appropriate for the Iranian team to play in the US “for their own life and safety”. Iranian officials seized on that statement as evidence that relocation was necessary.

“When Trump has ⁠explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to ⁠America,” said Mehdi Taj at the time.

More recently, Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali reiterated that participation could be reconsidered if the matches are not moved.

For now, however, FIFA’s position appears final. Iran — already qualified and placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand — is scheduled to play all three of its group matches on the US West Coast, including two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.