Iran’s men’s football team has requested that its World Cup matches be moved from the United States to co-host Mexico this summer.
Iran’s participation in the FIFA tournament in North America has been thrown into doubt after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran last month, which then retaliated with attacks on US bases in other Gulf countries.
US President Donald Trump said last week he did not think it was “appropriate” for Iran to participate “for their own life and safety”.
In response, the president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, has said the team has requested that its matches be played in Mexico.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in a statement posted on X.
“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”
A statement posted on the Iranian team’s Telegram also called for the US’s removal from the tournament instead.
It said: “The Iranian national team also qualified for this event with authority and through consecutive victories, becoming one of the first teams to reach this great tournament.
“Certainly, no one can remove the Iranian national team from the World Cup. Rather, the country that should be removed is the one that merely carries the title of host but does not have the ability to ensure security for the teams participating in this event.”
Iran is currently due to play all three group matches in the US.
Moving the games at this late stage would be logistically difficult, particularly considering the country could still end up in the US in the knockout rounds, depending on where they finish in their group.
FIFA did not immediately respond to ITV News’ request for comment.
The men’s team’s request to move its matches comes as two members of Iran’s women’s team, who were granted asylum in Australia earlier this month, have been pictured training with the Australian team, Brisbane Roar.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were pictured smiling and wearing the club’s colours as they posed alongside a women’s elite squad in photos posted to Instagram on Monday.
The update came as the rest of Iran’s soccer delegation left Malaysia bound for Oman, apparently capping a tumultuous episode that saw Australia’s government offering most of the squad humanitarian visas after the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup.
Seven women initially accepted the asylum offer before five changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.
Brisbane Roar, which plays in Australia’s elite A-League Women’s domestic competition, posted a welcome to “Fatemeh and Atefeh” on Instagram, along with an emoji of a lioness, a nod to the name the Iranian players are known by.
“We remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta wrote.
Both women left comments on the post. “Thank you for everything,” Ramezanisadeh wrote.
The club declined further comment and referred all questions to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.
The Roar last week offered the women “a place to train, play and belong” in a statement on social media.
