The Iranian national team has formally requested that its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches scheduled to be played in the United States be moved to venues in Mexico instead. The request, which centers on the location of Iran’s group-stage fixtures, reflects Tehran’s desire for its team to compete outside U.S. territory during the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking the first time the event is staged across three nations. Matches are set to be shared among multiple cities in each host country. Iran’s request specifically targets games originally assigned to U.S. venues, asking that those fixtures be reallocated to Mexican stadiums. No alternative proposals related to Canada have been detailed in the available information.
Details on the formal process Iran has used to deliver its request have not been disclosed, nor has any official response from FIFA or the 2026 local organizing committees been reported at this stage. The governing body traditionally finalizes match schedules and venues well in advance of the tournament, taking into account logistics, infrastructure, and security, as well as commercial and broadcasting considerations. Any change of venue after the schedule has been set would require coordinated approval from FIFA and the host nations.
The request comes as teams around the world prepare for the expanded 2026 format, which will feature more participating nations and a greater number of matches than previous editions. The tournament is expected to draw large traveling supporter bases, as well as significant local interest in each host country. Iran’s move adds an additional layer of complexity to the organizational planning, with potential implications for ticketing, fan travel, and stadium operations if any adjustments are made.
At present, there is no indication that FIFA has agreed to modify Iran’s match locations, nor any timeline for when a decision might be announced. The extent to which Iran’s group opponents, existing venue agreements, and broader tournament logistics would be affected by such a change is also unknown based on the information currently available. Until FIFA issues a formal ruling, Iran remains scheduled, on paper, to play its World Cup fixtures in accordance with the original host-city assignments.
