In a significant development for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Mexico has agreed to host Iran’s national football team after the United States reportedly denied the team’s stay during the tournament. This decision was confirmed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who stated that FIFA had approached Mexico with the request following the U.S. authorities’ refusal, despite Iran’s group-stage matches still being scheduled in the United States.
The Iranian team will now set up its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, a location strategically near the U.S. border and not far from San Diego, California. FIFA has officially announced this change while updating the list of team base camp locations for the tournament. Originally, Iran had intended to establish its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona. However, the escalating tensions in the Middle East, coupled with concerns over U.S. sanctions on Iran, reportedly disrupted those plans.
President Sheinbaum stated that Mexico has no reservations about hosting the Iranian squad and is actively working with FIFA to iron out the logistical details ahead of the competition. This arrangement allows Iran to avoid potential visa issues, as noted by Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation. Taj also mentioned that the team would benefit from direct travel to Mexico through Iran Air flights.
Despite the relocation, the U.S. State Department emphasized that Iran remains welcome to compete in the World Cup, although it did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision to prevent the team from staying in the U.S. during the event. The FIFA World Cup is set to be a joint endeavor hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.