Iran in talks with Fifa to play games in Mexico!
Iranian embassy in Mexico announce Fifa talks
Sports Desk, Mar 16 (EFE).-
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in talks to have its national team play its Group G matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the Iranian Embassy in Mexico said Monday.
On its website, the diplomatic mission said that “with reference to the lack of cooperation from the United States government in issuing visas and providing logistical support to Iran’s national football team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Abolfazl Psedniddeh (Iran’s ambassador to Mexico) suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches in the tournament be moved from the United States to Mexico.”
“We reiterate that the United States is not cooperating with us on the issue of visas. We are interested in attending the World Cup, but the U.S. government does not provide the necessary logistical or administrative support,” Psedniddeh said in remarks to state news agency IRNA cited on the embassy’s website.
“FIFA can intervene so that Iran’s national team can participate in the World Cup, but in Mexico. Iran’s Ministry of Sports and Youth will make the final decision on this matter,” he added, saying that “we are very fond of the Mexican people and, for us, the best option is for our matches to be held in Mexico.”
For its part, the embassy’s account on X cited remarks by the federation’s president, Mehdi Taj, who said that “since the president of the United States, Donald Trump, has explicitly stated that he cannot guarantee the safety of Iran’s national team, we certainly will not travel to the United States. We are currently negotiating with FIFA for Iran’s World Cup matches to be held in Mexico.”
Last Thursday, Trump said Iran’s national team is “welcome” at the World Cup in the United States but advised it not to participate “for its own safety.”
“Iran’s national soccer team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don’t think it is appropriate for them to be there, for their own safety,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The U.S. president’s message came a day after Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said there are “no conditions” for his country to take part in the World Cup following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Israeli and U.S. offensive launched Feb. 28.
“After the corrupt government killed our leader, there are no conditions that allow us to participate in the World Cup,” the minister said, adding: “We have been subjected to two wars in eight or nine months, and thousands of our citizens have died. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of such participation.”
Iran has been drawn in Group G of the tournament alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
The team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, is scheduled to open against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, with a second match against Belgium on June 21 in the same California city.
Iran’s final group-stage match is set for June 26 against Egypt in Seattle. EFE
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