The Iranian Football Federation has issued a bold statement to FIFA ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, raising fresh concerns over tournament logistics and geopolitics.

The competition set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Iran’s stance is already shaping into one of the biggest pre-tournament talking points. This statement has gained the attention of the global continent as the Iran FA president Mehdi Taj confirmed that the national team will participate in the World Cup but will refuse to play matches on U.S. soil.

The federation cited security concerns and ongoing political tensions as the primary reasons behind the decision, making it clear that their issue lies with the host nation rather than the tournament itself. As part of their communication to FIFA, the Iranian FA has formally requested that their matches be moved to Mexico.

The proposal suggests that relocating fixtures would allow Iran to compete without compromising their concerns, while still maintaining the integrity of the tournament. However, such a move would require significant adjustments to scheduling and logistics, something FIFA has historically been reluctant to alter once plans are finalized.

The governing body is expected to uphold its current match allocations, insisting that all qualified teams adhere to the official schedule.

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