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The 2026 World Cup will go ahead as planned, FIFA announced Tuesday after Iran’s ambassador and embassy in Mexico City said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s three group stage matches out of the United States.
In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, FIFA said it was in “regular contact” with all countries participating in the upcoming tournament, which will largely be held in the United States, but said matches would go ahead as previously agreed.
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A match between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on March 25, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including (the Islamic Republic of) Iran, to discuss planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA looks forward to all participating teams competing according to the match schedule announced on December 6, 2025.”
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Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing its group match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The United States will host the tournament along with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Iran’s Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, urged FIFA to move the team’s matches to Mexico in comments posted Monday on the embassy’s website. He reportedly said the “best situation” for Iran would be to move the team’s games to Mexico.
FIFA’s statement on Tuesday ended speculation that there would be adjustments to the schedule, including match locations.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as (from left) former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen during a meeting with the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)
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President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social article last week that Iran would be welcome to participate in the World Cup, but that it might not be “appropriate” as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
“The Iranian national football team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don’t think it is appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety,” he said.
Trump appeared indifferent the previous week when asked about Iran’s participation in the World Cup, tell Politico“I really don’t care.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also said last week that Trump had “reiterated” to him during their recent talks that the Iranian soccer team would be “Welcome to compete” in the United States
Iranian players celebrate after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A match between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on March 25, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. The Iranian national football team celebrated their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
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“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world,” he said in a post on Instagram.
Earlier remarks by Iran’s sports minister cast doubt on the country’s participation, but the men’s soccer team issued a statement Thursday saying “no one can exclude” the team from the competition, and urged FIFA and the United States to ensure the team’s safety.
