Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Monday that her administration has agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to be based in Mexico during the World Cup. This decision follows the U.S. declining to host the team despite their group matches being held there.
Sheinbaum explained that FIFA, the sport’s governing body, reached out to the Mexican government after the U.S. made its decision. She affirmed Mexico’s stance, saying, “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” during her daily press conference.
Requests for comment from the White House and the State Department regarding the situation have not been answered.
Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, announced on Saturday that the team’s base will transfer from Arizona to Tijuana, a Mexican border city, for the duration of the competition. Taj noted that this relocation would assist in avoiding issues related to visas and facilitate travel for the squad on Iran Air flights directly to Mexico.
The Iranian team’s participation had been uncertain due to diplomatic tensions, stemming from a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran earlier in the year.
The Iranian team is scheduled to play its opening matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21, respectively. They will then face Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
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