Mexico agrees – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government has allowed Iran’s national soccer team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup after the United States said it did not want to host the team. Iran’s federation head says the squad will relocate its base f
Mexico’s plan shifted quickly once Washington closed the door.
On Monday in Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government agreed to allow Iran’s national soccer team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup. She tied the decision directly to the U.S. position, saying the United States did not want to host the team.
Sheinbaum said soccer’s governing body, FIFA, approached her government after the U.S. said it did not want Iran’s squad to stay in the country throughout the tournament. even though Iran played all three of its group matches there. “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” she said during her daily press conference.
The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Behind Sheinbaum’s brief statement was a timetable that was already under strain. Mehdi Taj. head of Iran’s soccer federation. said Saturday that the team’s base would be moved from Arizona to Tijuana. a border city in Mexico. during the tournament. Taj added that the relocation would help avoid visa-related complications. He also said the squad would be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
The World Cup participation itself has been tense for months. Iran’s involvement in the June 11–July 19 tournament had been in question since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
Iran’s path through Group G runs across several U.S. cities: the team will play its first two group matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. It will then face Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
As Mexico makes space for the squad, the practical question now is how smoothly the team can move between game sites and its Mexican base—after the U.S. refusal and with FIFA’s request still shaping the outcome.
Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Iran national soccer team World Cup FIFA United States refusal Tijuana Arizona base Iran Air visa complications Group G Los Angeles Seattle