MEXICO CITY (Kashmir English): War-hit Iran’s football federation is “negotiating” with FIFA to moving their first-round matches at the World Cup from the United States to Mexico, citing the conflict in the Middle East, said Iran’s embassy in Mexico.
The country’s participation in this summer’s World Cup scheduled to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada has been thrown into doubt since the war began late last month.
“When [US President Donald] Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in remarks posted on the embassy’s X account.
“We are currently negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
Iran side is slated to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle, USA.
The team’s base camp for the event is currently announced to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, in a statement published on the embassy’s website on Monday, denounced “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup.
He said that he had also “suggested to Fifa that Iran’s matches be moved from the United States to Mexico.” FIFA, however, did not immediately respond to media queries.
Last week, US President Donald Trump triggered uproar after stating that while Iran’s football team would be “welcome” in the US, they should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety.”
Trump’s comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had given assurances that Trump had promised him that the Iranian team would be welcome.
Hitting back at Trump’s comments, Trump said “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
United States and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets across the Middle East.
