Iran’s football federation is “negotiating” with FIFA to move the country’s first-round matches at the World Cup from the United States to Mexico, citing conflict in the Middle East, Iran’s embassy in Mexico said Monday.
Iran’s participation in this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico is in doubt after the US and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting American targets in Israel and across the Middle East, with Gulf allies hosting US military bases coming under fire.
“When (US President Donald) Trump clearly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj said in remarks posted on the embassy’s X account.
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“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to host Iran’s matches at the World Cup in Mexico.”
Iran will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.
The tournament team’s base camp is currently located in Tucson, Arizona.
In a statement published on the embassy’s website on Monday, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazal Pasandideh, condemned the lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and logistical support to the Iranian delegation.
He said he had “instructed FIFA to move Iran’s matches from the United States to Mexico.”
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.
Iran’s soccer team was “welcome” in the United States, but sparked an uproar after Trump said last week that they should not travel to the tournament “for their own lives and safety.”
Trump’s comments came after FIFA President Gianni Infantino assured Trump that the Iranian team would be welcomed.
Iran hit back at Trump’s statement saying, “No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
(With FRANCE 24 AFP)
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