Iran’s World Cup venue shift plea rejected as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino stands firm on US schedule

FIFA rejected Iran’s request to shift its World Cup venues, with Gianni Infantino confirming that matches will go ahead in the United States as scheduled

Updated on: Mar 31, 2026, 20:37:02 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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FIFA has rejected Iran’s request to shift its World Cup venues, with president Gianni Infantino confirming that the matches will go ahead in the United States as originally scheduled.

Iran’s World Cup venue shift plea rejected

"The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw," Infantino said at half-time of Iran's friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey.

Iran are scheduled to play all three of their Group G matches in the United States. Their campaign begins against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a clash with Belgium at the same venue on June 21, before they face Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

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The request to move venues came amid escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and the United States since late February. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran had urged FIFA to shift the matches to Mexico, a co-host of the tournament alongside Canada.

The move was further triggered by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Iranian players would be allowed to compete in the United States but raised concerns about whether it would be appropriate for their “life and safety.” Although Trump later clarified that players would not be barred from entry, Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj cited the remarks while pushing for a venue switch.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also indicated that her country would be open to hosting Iran’s matches, adding weight to the request.

However, Infantino ruled out any late changes.

"Iran will be at the World Cup," he added. "That's why we're here. We're delighted because they're a very, very strong team. I'm very happy. I've seen the team, I've spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine."

Last Friday, Iran played a friendly against Nigeria in the Turkish town of Belek. The players wore black armbands and posed with school rucksacks during the national anthem to honour victims of a strike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the Middle East conflict.

The airstrike, which took place on February 28 in the southern city of Minab, reportedly killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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