Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that her country will host Iran’s national football team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, after the United States expressed reluctance to do so. Sheinbaum said FIFA contacted Mexico about hosting Iran.
“We have no reason to deny them the opportunity to stay in Mexico,” she said during her regular press conference. Iran had originally been scheduled to play all three group-stage matches in the US. However, the administration of US President Donald Trump argued that Iran’s presence in the US was “inappropriate,” citing “safety concerns” for the team members themselves.
To date, the US has not issued the necessary visas for Iran’s team to enter the country, despite Trump’s earlier claim that players and staff would be “welcomed.” Since February 28, the US and Israel have been in military conflict with Iran; peace talks remain tense.
Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s Football Federation, confirmed Sunday that the team plans to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Taj said the decision was approved after a meeting with FIFA officials in Istanbul and an online meeting with FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom.
According to Taj, relocating to Mexico will avoid visa issues since the team can fly directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights. However, the US-Israel-Iran war has cast a shadow over the World Cup, making Iran’s participation uncertain.
Nearly 3,468 people have died in Iran since the conflict erupted in February, with more than 26,500 injured. Additional deaths have been reported across the region. The war has also disrupted the global economy, driving up fuel and fertilizer prices.
Iran’s football team has long been a regional powerhouse. Competing in the 2026 World Cup marks its fourth consecutive qualification. Trump has made contradictory statements about Iran’s presence at the tournament—at times suggesting Iran withdraw, at others expressing indifference. Politico quoted Trump as saying in March: “I really don’t care,” before calling Iran “a heavy failure.”
The US, Mexico, and Canada are the three co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, with 78 matches taking place solely in the US, including the final. The tournament kicks off on June 11. Iran is scheduled to play its first two Group G matches in Los Angeles: against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, then face Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration has raised concerns about whether the US will be a welcoming host for fans from around the world. Trump has suspended visa processing for applicants from nearly 75 countries, including Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal—all nations with teams participating in the World Cup.
Sheinbaum explained that she was contacted by Iran’s team and FIFA officials for help arranging accommodations for players and staff. She said: “The US does not want Iran’s team to stay overnight. So they asked us: ‘Can we stay in Mexico overnight?’ We replied: ‘Of course, no problem.’”
