Mexico Hosts Iranian National Team for World Cup Amid U.S. Reluctance

The Mexican government has agreed to accommodate the Iranian national football team during the World Cup. This decision came after the United States expressed reluctance to host the team, despite Iran’s scheduled matches there.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, announced the agreement during a press conference. She stated that FIFA reached out to the Mexican government after the U.S. declined to allow the Iranian squad to stay on its soil throughout the tournament. Sheinbaum mentioned, “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico.” The White House and the State Department did not provide immediate comments on this matter.

Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, confirmed the team’s relocation from Arizona to Tijuana, a Mexican border city. He noted that this change of base would help prevent visa-related issues. Additionally, the team could travel directly to Mexico using Iran Air flights.

Iranian participation in the tournament was uncertain following an attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel in late February. Despite these challenges, Iran’s matches have been confirmed. The team will compete in Group G, playing their first two matches in Los Angeles. These games are against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. Their final group match will take place in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.