In a recent development ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Mexico has stepped in to host Iran’s national football team. This decision comes after the United States reportedly opted not to accommodate the Iranian squad during the tournament, despite the fact that Iran’s group-stage matches are set to take place on U.S. soil. The Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that FIFA had approached Mexico with this request following the U.S. authorities’ refusal.
The Iranian team’s training base has been relocated to Tijuana, a Mexican city near the U.S. border and close to San Diego, California. FIFA has officially confirmed this arrangement by updating the list of team base camp locations for the upcoming tournament. Initially, Iran had intended to establish its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona; however, escalating tensions in the Middle East and issues related to U.S. sanctions on Iran reportedly complicated these plans.
President Sheinbaum expressed that Mexico has no concerns about hosting the Iranian team and is actively working with FIFA to finalize logistics prior to the start of the World Cup. From Iran’s perspective, Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, noted that moving to Tijuana could help the team avoid potential visa complications. He also mentioned that Iran Air flights would facilitate direct travel to Mexico for the team.
While the U.S. State Department indicated that Iran remains welcomed to participate in the World Cup, it refrained from explaining why the team would not be housed in the U.S. during the event. The World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, will be a collaborative effort among the United States, Mexico, and Canada as host nations.