Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, confirmed the organisation is negotiating with Fifa to relocate matches to Mexico. The proposal follows the 2026 World Cup draw, which placed Iran in Group B alongside the United States, England, and a play-off winner. Matches in this group are currently scheduled to take place in American cities, according to Reuters.
Taj stated that the federation requested the change due to various administrative and travel concerns for Iranian supporters and officials. The federation suggested that playing in Mexico would provide a more suitable environment for the team during the group stage. Fifa has not yet issued a formal response regarding the feasibility of such a late change to the tournament schedule, per Sky Sports.
Iran qualified for the tournament after finishing top of its Asian qualifying group. The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to be hosted across three nations, with 16 cities selected across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
