FIFA have appeared to snub Iran’s request to move their 2026 World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico.

Iran’s football federation said that it is holding talks with FIFA about relocating the team’s World Cup matches.

It comes following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has responded with attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

However, FIFA appeared to have declined Iran’s requests, saying in a statement on Tuesday that it looks forward to all nations competing in line with the official match schedule.

“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the World Cup.

“FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”

The US is co-hosting the World Cup, which takes place between 11 June and 19 July, with Canada and Mexico.

All three of Iran’s group-stage fixtures are set to take place in the US, with matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt scheduled to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Last week Trump said: “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

This led to Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj to hit out at the president on a social media account belonging to the Iranian embassy in Mexico.

“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” said Taj.

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

With the ongoing conflict showing no signs of easing and Iran’s request to move their World Cup matches to Mexico seemingly rejected, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the team will feature in the tournament.

What will happen if Iran refuse to compete at the World Cup?

With all the uncertainty around Iran’s participation, what would actually happen if they refused to compete at the tournament?

If Iran refused to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they could face fines, lose prize money, and potentially be banned from future competitions, as FIFA has punished withdrawals in the past, however they would probably be more lenient if Iran feel it is unsafe for their players and staff members.

The governing body would almost certainly replace them with another qualified Asian team to keep the tournament on schedule.

Similar situations have occurred before, most notably when the Yugoslavia national football team was banned and replaced, and when Myanmar national football team withdrew and faced penalties. While the tournament itself would go ahead as planned, Iran’s absence would be a rare and politically significant moment in World Cup history

When have matches previously been moved?

Relocating Iran’s matches to Mexico would not be without precedent, as fixtures have previously been moved due to safety concerns and geopolitical tensions.

In recent years, the Belarus national football team have staged their home games in Hungary following their support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including a World Cup qualifier against the Scotland national football team at ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg.

Similar compromises are common in cricket, where longstanding political tensions mean India national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team only meet at neutral venues during ICC tournaments.

India, for instance, declined to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, while Pakistan played their matches in the recent T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

GN

After two months of Senegal winning AFCON and celebrating it in the streets with their people, there is now a shocking twist. CAF has decided to take the trophy away from Senegal and hand it to Morocco. Goodness me. Yes, you read that right.

The Confederation of African Football confirmed that the decision came after an appeal from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation following the dramatic final.

Senegal had originally won the match in extra time, but the game itself was overshadowed by controversy after the team briefly walked off the pitch during normal time in protest of a refereeing call.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was present at the final, later described the incident as “unacceptable,” pointing to the disruption caused when Senegal’s players left the field, leading to a delay of more than 15 minutes.

What happened on the night

The chaos unfolded late in the game. Morocco were awarded a penalty deep into second half stoppage time, just minutes after Senegal had a potential match winning goal ruled out. The decision sparked furious reactions from the Senegal bench.

Head coach Pape Thiaw urged his players to walk off in protest. Almost the entire team followed, with captain Sadio Mane the only player who remained on the pitch. The match was halted for around 16 minutes before Senegal returned and play resumed.

When action finally continued, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz stepped up but missed the penalty (It was a panenka effort). The game went in to extra time, Senegal struck decisively, with Pape Gueye scoring in the 94th minute to seal what seemed like a historic victory.

The situation in the stadium also spiralled during the delay, with clashes breaking out between Senegal and Morocco fans at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, adding to an already volatile night.

Why CAF overturned the result

CAF’s appeals board reviewed the incident and ruled that Senegal had breached tournament regulations. In its official statement, the governing body said the team’s actions fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON rules.

Article 82 states that any team leaving the pitch before the end of a match without the referee’s approval forfeits the game. Article 84 adds that such a team will be recorded as losing 3-0, unless the opponent was already leading by a bigger margin.

Based on that interpretation, Senegal’s victory was nullified and the title was awarded to Morocco.

Senegal have been declared to have forfeited the match with Morocco declared 3-0 winners by official statement.

Can Senegal challenge the decision?

CAF made it clear that all other appeals were dismissed, effectively closing the case within its own structure. However, Senegal still have the option of taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the independent body that handles global sporting disputes.

A decision that raises more questions

All of this leaves a bitter aftertaste. While the rulebook does provide grounds for punishment when a team walks off, the timing of the decision has drawn serious criticism.

It should be within the power of officials to act in real time and disqualify a team if such a breach occurs. Rewriting the result months later, after celebrations and history have already been made, feels deeply problematic.

Morocco, for their part, accepted Senegal’s return to the pitch, resumed play without objection, and took the penalty that could have changed everything. They missed it, conceded moments later, and lost the final on the field.

To then appeal and be awarded the trophy after the fact may be legally sound, but it does not sit right. For many, it feels less like justice and more like a hollow victory. It will negatively affect the reputation of the competetion and the federation.

GN

The FIA announced today that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, originally scheduled for April, will not take place due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

After careful evaluation, the FIA confirmed that no replacements will be scheduled for April, following full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters, and regional member clubs.

Scheduled races affected

• Bahrain Grand Prix: April 10–12
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: April 17–19

Both countries have faced weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks following the US and Israel’s war on Iran.

FIA president underscores priorities

“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.

He added that the decision was made responsibly and thanked promoters, partners, and colleagues for their collaborative approach. Ben Sulayem also expressed hope for a swift return to stability in the region.

Other series also affected

The FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, and F1 Academy rounds planned in the region will also be postponed or cancelled during their scheduled times.

Next races on the calendar

• Japanese Grand Prix: March 27–29
• Miami Grand Prix: May 1–3

Collaborative decision

The decision was made in full consultation with the Formula One Group, local race promoters, and FIA Member Clubs in the region, emphasising safety and operational considerations.

GN