❌ FIFA rejects moving Iran’s matches to Mexico 🇮🇷 | OneFootball

FIFA has definitively closed the door on the possibility of Iran's national team playing its 2026 World Cup matches on Mexican soil. According to The Times this Wednesday, despite recent pressures from the Iranian federation, the international body maintains the official schedule without changes.

The controversy arose after statements by Donald Trump, who deemed it "inappropriate" for the Asian team to travel to the United States for security reasons. In response, the president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, stated that they are in negotiations to move their venues from Los Angeles and Seattle to Mexico.

However, sources from the world's top football organization confirmed to the British newspaper that there are no real negotiations in this regard. The entity emphasizes that the logistics are unchangeable, especially after a large portion of ticket sales has been completed at the original U.S. venues.

FIFA has issued a statement reaffirming that they expect all qualified teams according to the schedule established in December 2025. The organization insists that planning continues as normal, ensuring the participation of all member countries.

In the event that Iran ultimately decides not to participate, FIFA has the exclusive authority to designate a substitute. Teams like Iraq or the United Arab Emirates appear as the main candidates to fill that hypothetical vacant spot in the tournament.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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