MEXICO CITY, April 11 — FIFA has decided not to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the United States (US) to Mexico despite the conflict in West Asia, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Iran requested not to play its three group-stage matches in the US following the February 28 attacks by the US and Israel, with the fighting only recently halted by a fragile ceasefire and Washington still threatening further strikes.
“FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Sheinbaum said at a press conference. From FIFA’s perspective, this would have entailed “an enormous logistical effort,” she said.
The world governing body had previously expressed reservations about Iran’s request to move its matches against Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt at the June 11–July 19 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had been pushing for Iran to take part despite fraught relations between Tehran and Washington.
“We want Iran to play; and Iran will play in the World Cup. There is no plan B, C or D – there is only plan A,” Infantino told Mexican broadcasters N+ Univision two weeks ago.
Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj recently said the team is boycotting the US, but not the World Cup, without providing further details, according state-run news agency IRNA.
US President Donald Trump has said he considers it not “appropriate” for Iran to take part “for their own life and safety”.
Amid the ceasefire called on Tuesday, talks between the US and Iran on a lasting peace settlement are set to take place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Friday.
Iran retaliated after the US and Israel launched the strikes, including by targeting Gulf states and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane.
