Tehran’s envoy in Mexico Abolfazi Pasandideh has called on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to change its World Cup 2026 matches from the United States to Mexico.
“We request FIFA to reconsider the venue of Iran squad’s matches and to shift them to Mexico due to security concerns,” local media quoted Ambassador Pasandideh as saying in an interview with UNO TV.
He said that safety considerations for the team’s members are a serious issue as Iran’s national team is scheduled to play its matches in the United States in June and July.
The concerns came to light after U.S. President Donald Trump said in his Truth social media platform that Iranian players should skip the World Cup in the United States “for their own safety”.
Ranked 20th in world ranking, Iran have qualified for the upcoming FIFA Cup and will participate in the event for the seventh time and as their fourth straight World Cup edition.
“Without Iran's participation, the World Cup would no longer be a symbol of friendship and peace,” said Pasandideh.
Last week, Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said the country’s football squad would not take part in the World Cup matches in the United States because of the ongoing joint U.S-Israeli operation against Iran.
“What has happened over the past months shows that the conditions for our national football team to participate in the World Cup do not exist,” he said in an interview on state IRIB TV, “So the team will not participate in the upcoming event.”
However, his remarks were ruled out later with Iranian sports authorities including the national Football Federation officials reaffirming Tehran’s decision to take part in the upcoming global tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had said last week also, that President Trump had assured him that the Iranian men's football team was welcome to the United States.
"President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said in a post on X.
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A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has asserted Tehran’s right to respond after accusing the U.S. of “state-sponsored piracy” following the seizure of two oil tankers.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Russia on Monday for a diplomatic visit to shore up support after two months of conflict. He met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks described by Moscow as “useful”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a four-day tour on Tuesday, visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia, expressing satisfaction with discussions focused on bilateral ties and regional developments.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC+ on 1 May has put renewed focus on one of the most influential groups in global energy - and how its decisions can shape oil prices worldwide.
Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
The United Arab Emirates has said it's quitting OPEC from 1 May, dealing a major blow to the oil producers’ group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, amid disruption caused by the Iran war.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla commemorated victims of the 11 September, 2001, an al Qaeda attack on New York City on Wednesday, laying a floral bouquet at the memorial where the World Trade Centre's twin towers once stood.
Two Jewish men have been stabbed in London in an incident that British police are treating as a terrorist attack.
Reversing a decade of restrictions, New South Wales has opened new areas for gas exploration in its remote west. The move reflects growing concern over future energy supply across Australia’s east coast.
Travel demand across China is expected to remain robust during the upcoming five-day Labour Day holiday starting 1 May.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 29th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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