Fifa denies Iran’s World Cup request and won’t act on Israel complaint – UK Times

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday that soccer has a key role to “promote peace” as the sport’s governing body issued decisions on two controversies plaguing the World Cup.

After FIFA’s ruling council met, Infantino reiterated that it will not grant Iranian requests to move the team’s three World Cup group games in June from the United States to Mexico.

Iranian government and soccer officials have said it is not possible for the national team to come to the U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb. 28.

President Donald Trump said last week that he did not believe it was “appropriate” for Iran to play games in America “for their own life and safety.”

The team is due to play two games at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood and one in Seattle.

Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that her country would have no problem hosting Iran’s matches if FIFA agreed.

“We have a schedule,” Infantino said about the World Cup fixtures announced in December, adding “we want the FIFA World Cup to go ahead as scheduled.”

FIFA also decided Thursday to take no action on formal complaints by the Palestinian soccer federation in 2024 against its Israeli counterpart, including to suspend membership.

Palestinian soccer officials have long argued Israel violates FIFA statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league.

“FIFA should take no action given that, in the context of the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes, the final legal status of the West Bank remains an unresolved and highly complex matter under public international law,” the soccer body said.

“FIFA can’t solve geopolitical conflicts,” said Infantino, who presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a specially created peace prize at the World Cup draw in December.

“(B)ut we are committed to using the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to build bridges and promote peace as our thoughts are with those who are suffering as a consequence of the ongoing wars,” he said.