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The 2026 World Cup will return spot arsenic scheduled, FIFA announced Tuesday aft nan Iranian ambassador and embassy successful Mexico City claimed nan state was negotiating pinch FIFA to move Iran’s 3 group-stage matches retired of nan U.S.
In a connection obtained by The Associated Press, FIFA said it is successful "regular contact" pinch each countries competing successful nan upcoming tournament, which will mostly return spot successful nan U.S., but said nan matches will return spot arsenic antecedently determined.
Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates aft scoring a extremity during nan 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled betwixt Iran and Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium connected March 25, 2025, successful Tehran, Iran. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
"FIFA is successful regular interaction pinch each participating personnel associations, including (the Islamic Republic of) Iran, to talk readying for nan FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA is looking guardant to each participating teams competing arsenic per nan lucifer schedule announced connected 6 December 2025."
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Iran is scheduled to play successful Inglewood, California, against New Zealand connected June 16 and Belgium connected June 21 earlier finishing group play against Egypt successful Seattle connected June 26. The U.S. is hosting nan tourney pinch Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh urged FIFA to move nan team’s games to Mexico successful comments posted Monday connected nan embassy website. He reportedly said that nan "best situation" for Iran would beryllium to move nan team’s games to Mexico.
FIFA’s connection Tuesday ended speculation that location would beryllium immoderate adjustments to nan schedule, including lucifer locations.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks arsenic (L-R) nan erstwhile Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio perceive during a gathering pinch nan White House Task Force connected nan FIFA World Cup 2026 successful nan Oval Office of nan White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)
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President Donald Trump said successful a Truth Social station past week that Iran would beryllium invited to compete successful nan World Cup but that it mightiness not beryllium "appropriate" arsenic nan conflict successful nan Middle East continues.
"The Iran National Soccer Team is invited to The World Cup, but I really don’t judge it is due that they beryllium there, for their ain life and safety," he said.
Trump was indifferent nan erstwhile week erstwhile asked astir Iran’s information successful nan World Cup, telling Politico, "I really don’t care."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino besides said past week that Trump "reiterated" to him successful their caller talks that Iran’s shot squad would beryllium "welcome to compete" successful nan U.S.
Players of Iran observe aft nan 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled betwixt Iran and Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium connected March 25, 2025, successful Tehran, Iran. Iran's nationalist shot squad celebrated aft securing qualification for nan 2026 FIFA World Cup pinch a 2-2 tie against Uzbekistan. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
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"We each request an arena for illustration nan FIFA World Cup to bring group together now much than ever, and I sincerely convey nan President of nan United States for his support, arsenic it shows erstwhile again that Football Unites nan World," he said successful a station connected Instagram.
Previous remarks from Iran’s sports curate person formed uncertainty connected nan country’s participation, but nan men’s shot squad released a connection Thursday saying that "no 1 tin exclude" nan squad from competing, and urged FIFA and nan U.S. to guarantee nan team’s safety.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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