Iran’s football federation says it is in talks with FIFA about moving the national team’s World Cup group matches from the United States to Mexico because of the war in the Middle East and security concerns .
Iran are due to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle at this summer’s tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico .
However, Iran’s embassy in Mexico said on Monday that officials are now “negotiating” with FIFA to have Iran’s matches held in Mexico instead of the United States .
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian football federation, was quoted on the embassy’s X account as saying that when US President Donald Trump has openly said he cannot guarantee the security of the Iranian team, the squad will certainly not travel to America .
Taj said Iran is currently discussing with FIFA the possibility of staging the country’s World Cup fixtures in Mexico .
Iran’s base camp for the tournament is presently planned for Tucson, Arizona, but the uncertainty over security and visas has cast doubt on those arrangements .
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, criticised what he described as the US government’s lack of cooperation on issuing visas and providing logistical support for the Iranian delegation .
In a statement on the embassy’s website, he said he had proposed to FIFA that Iran’s World Cup matches be moved from US venues to stadiums in Mexico .
FIFA has not yet commented on the request, according to AFP .
The dispute escalated after Trump said last week that while Iran’s team would be welcome in the United States, they should not come to the tournament for their own life and safety .
His remarks came despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously stating that Trump had assured him the Iranian team would be welcome .
Iran rejected Trump’s comments, insisting that no one could exclude its national team from the World Cup .
The country’s participation has been clouded by the wider conflict after the United States and Israel launched a large scale offensive against Iran, which responded with missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory and American targets across the region .
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