• Iran's football federation is negotiating with FIFA to relocate World Cup matches to Mexico.
• The discussions arise amid ongoing tensions linked to US-Israel actions against Iran.
• AFC confirms it has not received any notification of Iran's withdrawal from the tournament.
• Iran was set to compete in three matches in the US, raising safety concerns.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that it has not received any formal notification from Iran regarding a withdrawal from the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11. Both of Iran's group matches are scheduled to occur in Los Angeles and Seattle, but ongoing geopolitical tensions have cast doubt on their participation. AFC General Secretary Windsor John emphasized, "it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing," reassuring that as of now, they intend to participate, according to Aljazeera and South China Morning Post.

Iran's football federation is actively negotiating with FIFA to shift its World Cup matches to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid violent conflict in the Middle East. Iranian football president Mehdi Taj articulated the federation's position, stating, "when Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," according to Reuters and Aljazeera.

As tensions escalated with the US and Israel's military actions against Iran, the participation of the Iranian team came under scrutiny after Iran's sports minister expressed doubts about their ability to compete. The immediate response from the Iranian government highlights a national emphasis on safety and messaging to FIFA regarding the proposed relocation, as stated by Iranian officials and echoed in reports from multiple sources, including South China Morning Post and Reuters.