The Iranian Football Federation is in talks with FIFA to move World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of its players, Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said on Monday.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup was called into question after co-organizers the United States, along with Israel, launched joint air strikes on the country.
US President Donald Trump said last week that Iran was welcome to participate, but suggested that it might not be appropriate for them to play in the US “for their own lives and safety”.
When Trump specifically stated that cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian national teamwe certainly won’t be traveling to America, Taj said in a post on the X account of the Iranian embassy in Mexico. We are negotiating with FIFA to host Iran’s World Cup matches in MexicoTaj added.
Iranian football president Mehdi Taj was quoted as saying that the country is “currently negotiating” with the world football federation (FIFA) to move all World Cup games involving Iranian players to Mexico.
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FIFA she didn’t answer right away upon request for comment.
Iran qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup by winning their group in the third round of Asian qualifiers last year.
The World Cup begins June 11 and is played in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and Iran is scheduled to play two group games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand are Iran’s opponents in Group G.
Moving Iran’s games to Mexico would mean a significant logistical change for the tournamentalthough moving matches for security or geopolitical reasons is not without precedent.
Last September, Scotland beat Belarus 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Zalaegerszeg, near the Austrian-Slovenian border, and the decision to play the game there was made by UEFA because of Belarus’ role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In other sports, damaged political relations between India and Pakistan mean the nuclear-armed neighbors face each other only at neutral venues in multi-team cricket tournaments. India refused to travel to Pakistan for last year’s Champions Trophy and were allowed to play all their matches in Dubai.
If FIFA refuses to change the venue to Mexico, it seems unlikely that Iran will travel to the US and participate in the tournament while at war with one of the co-hosts.
(Hina | Photo: X)
