PLDC - Iran’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, has said that the Iranian government is willing to have the national team play its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Mexico instead of the United States.
According to Donyamali, Iran’s ambassador in Mexico is currently following up on the possibility of transferring Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico. “We are ready to play in Mexico, but since the draw has already taken place, it seems such a change may not be possible,” he said.
These comments come just two days after the minister suggested that Iran might not be able to participate in the tournament at all. Referring to recent tensions and the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in attacks attributed to Israel and the United States, he said, “Under these circumstances, we do not have the conditions to attend the World Cup.”
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, also hinted at a similar stance, saying: “With the current outlook, no reasonable person would accept sending the national team to the United States.”
However, in an apparent shift, the Iranian Football Federation and national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei later posted an Instagram story claiming that the United States cannot guarantee the security of teams participating in the 2026 World Cup. They even suggested that the host country should be removed from the tournament.
“No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup,” the statement said. “The country that should be removed is the one that carries the title of ‘host’ but cannot guarantee the safety of participating teams.”
The message appeared to be a response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that Iran’s national team would be welcomed at the World Cup, but added: “I truly don’t believe it would be appropriate for them to be there, for their own safety.”
