In a recent development ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Mexico has agreed to host Iran’s national football team after the United States reportedly declined to allow the squad to stay within its borders 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 being scheduled in the United States.
The Iranian team’s training base has been relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, which is strategically positioned near the U.S. border and close to San Diego, California. FIFA officially announced this change when it unveiled the list of team base camp locations for the upcoming tournament. Initially, Iran had planned to set up its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona. However, escalating tensions in the Middle East and complications related to U.S. sanctions on Iran reportedly disrupted these arrangements.
President Sheinbaum expressed Mexico’s willingness to accommodate the Iranian squad and mentioned that the country is currently working with FIFA to finalize the logistical aspects ahead of the tournament. The move to Tijuana is expected to circumvent potential visa-related issues, as noted by Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj. He also highlighted that the team would be able to travel directly to Mexico using flights operated by Iran Air.
While the U.S. State Department has stated that Iran remains welcome to participate in the World Cup, it did not provide specific reasons for why the team would not be staying in the U.S. during the event. This development underscores the complexities surrounding international sports events amid geopolitical tensions.
The FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will take place from June 11 to July 19. As the preparations continue, the focus remains on ensuring a smooth and competitive tournament, with teams like Iran adjusting their plans to accommodate unexpected changes in their logistics and training environments.