FIFA’s Decision on Iran’s 2026 World Cup Participation

FIFA has officially rejected Iran’s request to relocate its 2026 World Cup group stage matches from the United States to Mexico, confirming that the team will play its fixtures on U.S. Soil despite severe geopolitical tensions.

The decision follows a period of high-stakes negotiations between the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) and the sport’s global governing body. On March 31, 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that there is no alternative plan for the match locations, stating that the fixtures will be played where they are supposed to be according to the draw.

Logistical Constraints and FIFA’s Stance

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on April 12, 2026, that FIFA turned down the request to move the Iranian fixtures to Mexico. According to Sheinbaum, the governing body determined that shifting venues at this stage would make logistics too complicated.

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This decision comes despite the willingness of the Mexican President to host the matches. FIFA maintained that the relocation was logistically unfeasible and that all matches would proceed as originally scheduled.

The FFIRI had previously threatened to boycott the tournament if the matches were not moved. However, the federation has since backed down from that threat, although tensions regarding the locations persist.

Tournament Grouping and Venues

Iran has been placed in Group G for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they are scheduled to compete against Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All three of Iran’s group-stage matches are slated to take place in the United States.

Reporting indicates that these group matches are specifically scheduled to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Geopolitical Context

The dispute over venues is set against a backdrop of active conflict. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and 168 people at a girls school on the first day of the conflict.

Tehran responded to these actions by striking U.S. And Israeli military bases in the Middle East using drones and missiles. These events led the Iranian government to express concerns over the safety and protection of its players while competing in the U.S.

To address these security concerns, FIFA revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that the Iranian team is welcome and will be permitted to compete within the United States.

Current Status of Participation

While the FFIRI has dropped its formal boycott threat, uncertainty remains regarding the final decision of the Iranian government. As of April 7, 2026, reports indicated that the government was awaiting a final response from FIFA regarding the venue switch before making a definitive decision on the national team’s participation.

FIFA remains firm in its position that no Plan B exists and that the tournament schedule will be adhered to as planned.