In a significant development for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Mexico has agreed to host Iran’s national football team. This decision comes after the United States reportedly declined to accommodate the Iranian squad on its soil during the tournament. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that FIFA reached out to Mexico following the U.S. refusal, even though Iran is scheduled to play its group-stage matches within the United States.
As a result, Iran’s training base has been relocated to Tijuana, Mexico. This location is strategically positioned near the U.S. border and close to San Diego, California. FIFA has officially confirmed this adjustment by updating their list of team base camp locations for the event. Initially, Iran had planned to set up its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona, but escalating tensions in the Middle East and complications related to U.S. sanctions on Iran reportedly disrupted those plans.
President Sheinbaum expressed that Mexico does not have any reservations about accommodating the Iranian team and is currently working with FIFA to iron out logistical details ahead of the tournament. The move is seen as a way to circumvent potential visa issues, as highlighted by Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation. He noted that the team would be able to travel directly to Mexico using flights operated by Iran Air.
The U.S. State Department has stated that Iran remains welcome to participate in the World Cup, yet it has not provided comments on the specific reasons for not hosting the team during the event. The upcoming FIFA World Cup is set to be a joint effort between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, running from June 11 to July 19.
