2026 WORLD CUP: IRAN ASKS FIFA TO MOVE GAMES FROM US TO MEXICO

Iran are scheduled to play their 2026 World Cup group games in LA and Seattle

Iran has asked Fifa to move its 2026 World Cup games from the US to Mexico as the wrangling over the war-torn country’s participation continues.

The Iranian embassy in Mexico posted a statement on social media saying that talks were ongoing over the possible solution after President Trump suggested that it may not be safe for Iran to travel to the US for this summer’s tournament.

Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj was quoted as saying: “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America. 

“We are currently negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”

Iran are currently scheduled to play their first two group games against New Zealand and Belgium in LA, with their third against Egypt in Seattle.

Three Mexican cities – Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey – are set to stage fixtures at the World Cup, which is also being co-hosted

But matches have already been allocated to those cities and the teams involved, who include Japan, South Korea, Tunisia and Japan, have already made their tournament plans accordingly.

Iran put World Cup ball back in Fifa’s court

Moving games would therefore represent a major logistical headache for Fifa and could anger local authorities in LA and Seattle who have already budgeted for their schedule.

On top of that, the bulk of knockout stage games will be in the US, meaning it would be impossible to avoid Iran playing in the States if they progressed.

The suggestion does, however, put the ball back in Fifa’s court with less than 100 days to go until the biggest ever World Cup kicks off on 11 June. 

Iran has refused to formally withdraw despite officials saying they would be unable to travel to the US amid the ongoing military operations led by the Trump administration and Israel.

After Fifa chief Gianni Infantino relayed apparent assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the World Cup, the US President undid that work by saying: “The Iranian national team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don’t think their presence is appropriate, for their own lives and safety.”

The Iranian men’s national team hit back in a post on social media, saying: “No one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is the one that merely holds the title of ‘host country’ without being able to ensure the safety of the teams participating in this global event.”

- Frank Dalleres

MEXICAN PRESIDENT SHEINBAUM SAYS 'THERE'S NO RISK FOR FIFA WORLD CUP VENUES DESPITE FALLOUT FROM KILLING OF EL MENCHO

 Mexico will host 13 games across Jalisco, Monterrey and Mexico City

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum HECTOR VIVAS/GETTY IMAGES

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed there is no risk for the security of the FIFA World Cup matches that the country will host later this year despite the fallout from the killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the longtime leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

Asked about the issue during her daily press conference on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said that "all guarantees are given" for the 13 matches that will be played in Mexico City, Jalisco and Monterrey.

Sheinbaum has also said that the country is already "calm and peaceful," adding that federal and state forces are working in coordination following backlash from cartel operatives, which included road blocks and different violent acts across the country.

Sheinbaum went on to say that all major roads in the country are clear and authorities will swiftly respond to any incident.

According to official figures presented by Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch and Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, about 70 people were killed and about 20 injured in multiple Mexican states following the military operation that resulted in the death of El Mencho.

Trevilla detailed casualties from the operation itself, saying three soldiers were killed in direct clashes in a wooded area of Jalisco and three more died from injuries while being airlifted to a hospital. He said troops also killed eight suspected gunmen, detained two people and seized weapons including seven long guns and two rocket launchers of Russian origin.

Elsewhere in the conference, the general said that forces managed to find El Mencho after tracking down a lover of his. Once the person left the premise, officers confirmed that El Mencho stayed there. Forces then moved on to detain him, engaging in a shootout with cartel operatives there.

Trevilla Trejo noted that that El Mencho tried to escape while leaving a group of operatives behind to slow down government forces. He made it to a nearby wood, but forces pinned him down and wounded him. El Mencho was taken to a helicopter heading to Mexico City, but he died on the way.

Another report detailed that the CIA provided 'instrumental' information to locate "El Mencho." Citing a U.S. official briefed on the operation, The New York Times detailed that the agency has several ways of collecting information in the country, including human informants, overhead imagery and intercepted communications.

The outlet went on to say that the U.S. has stepped up intelligence-sharing with the country and pressuring it to act on it. Mexican authorities confirmed there was cooperation with the U.S. in the operation.

INTER MILAN STRIKE BACK IN BATTLE AGAINST MONTERREY TO A 1-1 DRAW | FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

EUSÉBIO IN NUMBERS 🇵🇹 | SOCCER ⚽ LEGEND

 

C.D. Maxaquense 🇲🇿: (1957-1960)  

• 42 Matches played 🔥  

• 77 Goals ⚽  

Benfica 🇵🇹: (1960-1975)   

• 440 Matches played 🔥  

• 473 Goals ⚽ (ALL-TIME TOP SCORER) ⭐  

Boston Minutemen 🇺🇸: (1975)  

•  Matches played 🔥  

• 2 Goals ⚽  

Monterrey 🇲🇽: (1976)  

• 10 Matches played 🔥  

• 1 Goal ⚽  

Toronto Blizzard 🇨🇦: (1976)  

• 25 Matches played 🔥  

•  18 Goals ⚽  

S.C. Beira-Mar 🇵🇹: (1976-1977)  

• 12 Matches played 🔥  

•  3 Goals ⚽  

Las Vegas Quicksilvers 🇺🇸: (1977)  

• 17 Matches played 🔥  

•  2 Goals ⚽  

União Tomar 🇵🇹: (1977-1978​)  

• 12 Matches played 🔥  

• 3 Goals ⚽  

New Jersey Americans 🇺🇸: (1978​)  

• 9 Matches played 🔥 

•  2 Goals ⚽  

Portugal National Team 🇵🇹: (1961-1973)  

•  64 Matches played 🔥  

•  41 Goals ⚽  

Key Achievements 🏆:  

•  1 Bronze Medal in the World Cup 🥉  

•  1 European Cup (Now Champions League) 🏆  

• 11 Portuguese League Titles 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 (ALL-TIME RECORD) ⭐  

• 5 Portuguese Cups 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆  

•  7 Portuguese League Top Scorer Titles 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (RECORD) ⭐  

•  3 European Cup Top Scorer Titles 🥇🥇🥇  

•  1 Ballon d’Or 🥇  

•  1 World Cup Golden Boot 🥇  

•  2 European Golden Boots (Top Scorer in European Leagues) 🥇🥇  

•  Portuguese Footballer of the 20th Century (IFFHS) 🥇  

•  2-Time Portuguese Footballer of the Year 🥇🥇  

THE BLACK PANTHER OF MOZAMBIQUE 👑

CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 GROUP STAGES

 

GOALKEEPER NAHUEL GUZMÁN SUSPENDED FOEN11 GAMES, FINED FOR POINTING LASER AT RIVAL IN LIGA MX MATCH

 MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nahuel Guzmán, a goalkeeper for the Mexican club Tigres of Nuevo Leon, was suspended 11 games and fined for pointing a laser at fellow goalie Esteban Andrada during a tournament match last weekend, Liga MX announced Thursday.

The 38-year-old Guzmán is recovering from right knee surgery and was in the visiting team’s box at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey last Saturday during the first half when he pointed the laser in the direction of Andrada, a fellow Argentine and the starting goalkeeper for Rayados.

Monterrey's sports president, Jose Antonio Noriega, went to the box and took away the laser in the first half of the match, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

In addition to the suspension and fine, Guzmán must do unspecified community work.

This is the first time in the history of Mexican soccer that a player has been sanctioned for pointing a laser at a rival. The 2014 Apertura final between América and Tigres was stopped momentarily because a fan was aiming a laser at players.

Guzmán, who was on Argentina's roster for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will miss the rest of the Clausura tournament because of the suspension. It's not clear when he will be healthy enough to play.

The fine of Guzmán was one of several stemming from the match.

Tigres was fined an unspecified amount for the behavior of its fans. A Tigres fan could be seen urinating in a glass and throwing it on Rayados fans in video posted on social media.

Andrada received a fine for a post on his Instagram account in which he made homophobic comments about Guzmán.

And Monterrey was also fined over fan behavior. A video posted on social media showed a Rayados fan throwing liquid at forward André-Pierre Gignac and making an obscene gesture.

Without revealing names or the teams they supported, the Disciplinary Commission of Liga MX said two fans would be banned from attending league matches, although it did not say for how long.

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