Iran seeks to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico over safety
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Iran seeks to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico over safety
Steve Gardner, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Iran's soccer federation is in talks with FIFA to get the country's matches in the upcoming 2026 World Cup moved from the United States toMexicodue to concerns about the safety of its players.
Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
1/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
2/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
3/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
4/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
5/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
6/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
7/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
8/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
9/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
10/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
11/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
12/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
13/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
14/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
Iran, which earned a spot in the World Cup by winning its group in Asian qualifying last year, is scheduled to open the tournament in Los Angeles with matches againstNew Zealandon June 16 andBelgiumon June 21. Another group match againstEgyptis scheduled in Seattle on June 26.
"When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football President Mehdi Taj said in a statement issued by the Iranian embassy in Mexico.
FIFA did not directly address the concerns, saying only that it is "in regular contact with all participating member associations" and "looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025," a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.
Mexican president Claudia Schienbaum has said her country would have no problem hosting Iran's matches. However, it would be a major logistical change for tournament officials, and an Iranian withdrawal would be a first for the World Cup in the modern era − and leave FIFA with an unprecedented task of finding a replacement nation for the tournament, which is scheduled to begin June 11.
