FIFA turns down Iran's bid to shift World Cup matches to Mexico due to ongoing US-Israel conflict

FIFA has rejected Iran's proposal to relocate its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing significant logistical challenges as a primary concern, a decision that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has now confirmed.

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Sheinbaum's confirmation over the weekend reaffirmed the earlier stance of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had stated that there are no alternative plans to move the matches from their originally scheduled venues in the US.

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Infantino had previously emphasized that the World Cup schedule will proceed as planned, with no intention to alter the existing arrangements, a position that Sheinbaum reiterated during a news conference in Mexico City.

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According to Sheinbaum, FIFA ultimately decided that relocating the matches would be too complicated from a logistical standpoint, and this decision was made by the FIFA governing body.

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Iran had been one of the first countries to secure a spot in the World Cup, qualifying through the Asian confederation, and is set to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in the US cities of Los Angeles and Seattle between June 15 and 27.

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Last month, the Iranian football federation expressed concerns over the safety and security of its players in the US, following a social media post by President Donald Trump suggesting that Iran's participation in the World Cup could pose a risk to the team's well-being.

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In response to Trump's comments, an Iranian official stated that the team would not travel to the US if their security could not be guaranteed, sparking a series of indirect verbal exchanges between the two countries on the issue.

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Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali recently suggested that his country's participation in the World Cup is uncertain unless FIFA agrees to relocate the team's fixtures, but this request has now been denied.

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Mexico, which is co-hosting the World Cup alongside the US and Canada, had expressed a willingness to host Iran's matches, but Sheinbaum's recent comments have reaffirmed FIFA's stance on the matter.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino had met with Iranian football players, coaches, and officials in Turkiye on March 31, and has since maintained that the World Cup schedule will proceed as planned.

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Iran is scheduled to compete in Group G of the tournament, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with the matches set to take place in the US as originally scheduled.