Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday (May 25) that Mexico will host the Iranian national football team for the upcoming World Cup, stepping in after the United States refused to let the squad base themselves on US soil.
The decision highlights how geopolitical tensions are spilling over into the world's biggest sporting event, which is being jointly hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
President Sheinbaum revealed that football’s global governing body, FIFA, approached her administration for help. The request came after Washington made it clear that it did not want the Iranian team staying in the US during the tournament, even though all three of Iran's group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in American cities.
"We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico," Sheinbaum stated during her daily press conference, confirming that Mexico would provide a safe environment for the athletes.
The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the housing refusal.
Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran's football federation, confirmed that the team's official training base will be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.
Taj noted that basing the team in Mexico will eliminate severe visa complications with US immigration authorities. It will also allow the team to fly directly into Mexico via Iran Air flights, bypassing US aviation restrictions. The squad plans to commute across the border purely for their scheduled match days.
Iran’s participation in the tournament had been uncertain following military clashes involving the US, Israel, and Iran in late February. Despite the off-field political friction, the Iranian team is set to compete in Group G, playing their first two matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a final group clash against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
