Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has approved a request for Iran’s World Cup squad to stay in Mexico during the tournament, after the United States reportedly declined to host the team overnight. Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after the US made clear it did not want the Iranian team to remain in the country while matches were being played there.
“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the country had no objection to accommodating the squad. She said FIFA asked whether Iran could use Mexico as an overnight base, and the Mexican government agreed. “The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there,” Sheinbaum said. “So they asked us: ‘Can they stay overnight in Mexico?’ And we said: ‘Yes, no problem.’ We have no problem.”
Later on Monday, FIFA confirmed that Iran’s training base will be at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico. Iran had originally been assigned Tucson, Arizona, as its World Cup base, with all three of its scheduled matches set to take place in the United States. The change comes amid heightened uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation because of the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.
The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Los Angeles, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The team is currently preparing for the tournament in Antalya, southern Turkey.
The situation highlights the logistical and political complexities surrounding the tournament, as teams, organizers and host nations navigate security, travel and accommodation issues across the three-country event. BBC has contacted the White House and FIFA for comment.
