FIFA has declined a request from Iran’s Minister of Sports to relocate the national team’s 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. As a result, Iran’s fixtures will proceed as scheduled in California.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said during a press conference at the National Palace that any changes to match venues would require complex logistical coordination that is not feasible so close to the tournament. FIFA has also refused to amend the match schedule.

The request followed heightened geopolitical tensions after U.S. and Israeli military support for Iranian people led to the deaths of senior officials of the Islamic Republic. In response, Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said the national team might boycott travel to the United States if Group G matches were not moved to Mexico. Iran is set to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in the group stage.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum

Donyamali cited concerns over the safety of Iranian players in the United States as the main reason for the request. At the same time, amid tensions in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s women’s national football team competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia’s Gold Coast did not sing the national anthem. This led to threats against both the players and their families in Iran.

Separately, the U.S. government denied a visa to Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s Football Federation, preventing him from attending the 2026 World Cup draw. Taj has been linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, criticized the United States for not cooperating in issuing visas to Iranian officials and renewed calls to move Iran’s matches to Mexico.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, about eight million Iranians have emigrated to Europe and North America. Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities, is among the host cities where Iran is scheduled to play, along with Seattle. Observers say Iranian authorities are concerned about maintaining control over the team in such environments.