Will Iran participate at the FIFA World Cup? (1:47)ESPN’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss if Iran will participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after recent troubles with the United States. (1:47)
ESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsMar 17, 2026, 03:34 AM ET
Iran’s embassy in Mexico on Tuesday said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.
It was unclear whether such talks are happening with FIFA, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup.
The embassy posted a statement attributed to Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group stage matches to Mexico to ensure the safety of players and officials.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement said. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
“FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on December 6, 2025.”
The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
Trump said last week that the Iran team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war in the Middle East but added, “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that it was not possible to play “due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran.”
But after Trump’s post, the national team said on Instagram that “no one can exclude” it from the tournament and a government spokesman in Tehran stressed it was the responsibility of FIFA and the U.S. as a co-host nation to keep players safe and secure.
Soccer is followed passionately in Iran, a nation of more than 90 million people that has qualified for seven men’s World Cups and each of the past four editions. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and behind only Japan from Asia.
FIFA had previously commented via an Instagram post from president Gianni Infantino last week that he’d received assurances from Trump that Iran was welcome at the tournament.
Will Iran participate at the FIFA World Cup? (1:47)ESPN’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss if Iran will participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after recent troubles with the United States. (1:47)
ESPN’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss if Iran will participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after recent troubles with the United States. (1:47)
Moving the games would be unprecedented less than three months before the start of the World Cup.
Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this report.