In a recent development, Mexico has agreed to host Iran’s national football team for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup after the United States reportedly declined to accommodate the team during the tournament. This decision comes despite Iran’s group-stage matches being scheduled to take place within the US.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that FIFA reached out to Mexico with the request following the US’s refusal to host the Iranian team overnight. As a result, Iran’s training base has now been relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, which is conveniently situated near the US-Mexico border and close to San Diego, California. This change was confirmed by FIFA when it released the list of team base camp locations for the event.
Initially, Iran had planned to set up its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona. However, escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns related to US sanctions on Iran reportedly made these arrangements untenable. In response, President Sheinbaum noted that Mexico had no reservations about accommodating the Iranian squad and is currently working with FIFA to iron out the logistical details before the tournament begins.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, stated that relocating to Tijuana would help the team avoid potential visa-related issues. He also mentioned that Iran Air flights would facilitate direct travel to Mexico, making the logistics more manageable for the team.
The US State Department commented that Iran remains welcome to participate in the World Cup, although it did not provide reasons for why the team would not be staying within the US during the competition. The FIFA World Cup is set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.