Iran ‘negotiating’ with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran is currently negotiating with FIFA to relocate its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. This request has arisen amid heightened scrutiny regarding safety in Mexico, particularly following the killing of a prominent drug cartel leader, "El Mencho," which has led to a surge in violence across the country. Iran's participation in the World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, has been thrown into doubt due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia (Primary Source; Deutsche Welle). Concerns about safety have intensified following violent clashes linked to drug cartels in Mexico. The violence erupted after the Mexican army killed El Mencho, leading to the cancellation of four high-level soccer matches in a town near Guadalajara, which is close to the World Cup host site. Despite these incidents, Mexican officials have met with FIFA to coordinate safety plans for the tournament, aiming to reassure visitors about their safety during the event (Deutsche Welle; Mexico News Daily). FIFA has reaffirmed its support for Mexico as the host of the upcoming World Cup, with the opening match scheduled to take place in Mexico City, featuring Mexico against South Africa, just under four months from now. President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly stated that there is "no risk" to World Cup visitors, addressing concerns raised by misleading videos and images that falsely depicted violence (Mexico News Daily; Euronews). In light of the security situation, Mexico is moving forward with its sporting events, including a friendly match against Iceland, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining sporting activities despite the unrest. The Mexican government is actively working to ensure the safety of attendees during the World Cup, emphasizing that the violence does not pose a threat to visitors (Mexico News Daily; Deutsche Welle).