Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sports, has sparked widespread debate in international sporting circles after formally calling on FIFA to move Iran national football team matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the United States to Mexico.
Donyamali’s request came in response to comments by US President Donald Trump, who said the Iranian team would be “welcome” in the United States but questioned whether their presence would be appropriate “for their safety and lives.”
Iranian officials interpreted the remarks as an implied threat and psychological pressure aimed at destabilizing the team ahead of the tournament.
Speaking to SNN TV, the Iranian minister said Tehran is deeply concerned about the safety of its players due to what he described as contradictory statements and an unstable political atmosphere in Washington.
He argued that holding Iran’s matches in Mexico could provide better security guarantees and distance the team from the ongoing political and military tensions between the two countries.
Donyamali added that the current situation, which he described as a state of war, makes travel to and residence in the United States a serious risk.
He urged FIFA to intervene quickly to ensure a safe environment for all teams participating in the tournament.
The minister also hinted at the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the competition altogether, saying that the conditions for participation “have not yet been met.”
He noted that recent events, including the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, have made taking part in a tournament partly hosted by the United States “morally and politically impossible” from Tehran’s perspective.
If Iran were to withdraw, FIFA could face a legal and organizational challenge in replacing the team’s spot, with possible candidates mentioned including the Iraq national football team and the United Arab Emirates national football team.
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