Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her country will host the Iranian national soccer team at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, citing tensions with the United States.
Scheinbaum said Monday that international soccer governing body FIFA approached Mexico about hosting Iran after the United States said it did not want to do so.
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“There is no reason to rule out the possibility of them remaining in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said at a daily news conference.
Previously, Iran was scheduled to play all three group stage matches in the United States.
However, US President Donald Trump’s administration previously said it was “not appropriate” for members of the Iranian team to be in Iran “for their own lives and safety.”
Despite President Trump’s assertion that players and staff are “welcomed,” the Iranian team has not yet been issued the necessary visas to travel to the United States.
The United States and Israel have been at war with Iran since February 28, and peace negotiations are tense but ongoing.
Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj confirmed on Sunday that the team plans to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.
Taj said team leaders met with FIFA officials in Istanbul and received approval for the move after holding an online meeting with FIFA Secretary-General Matthias Grafström.
Taj said changing the team’s home base to Mexico would allow the team to fly directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights, avoiding visa issues.
However, the war between the United States and Israel against Iran has cast a dark cloud over the World Cup, making the Iranian team’s participation uncertain.
Approximately 3,468 people have been killed and more than 26,500 injured in Iran since the war began in February. Further deaths are being reported across the region.
The war also threw the world economy into turmoil, causing particularly high prices for fuel and agricultural fertilizers.
Iran’s soccer team has been the top team in the region for many years and currently ranks near the top of the Asian Football Confederation. Participating in the 2026 tournament will be the fourth consecutive year they have qualified for the World Cup.
However, President Trump has sent mixed messages about Iran’s presence at the World Cup, at times suggesting that Iran should be withdrawn from the tournament. In another moment, he expressed ambivalence.
For example, in March, Politico asked President Trump about Iran’s presence at the World Cup. President Trump reportedly responded, “I don’t care at all,” before calling Iran a “terribly defeated country.”
The tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and 78 games including the final will be played in the United States alone. Kickoff is June 11th.
Iran will play their first two Group G matches against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15th and Belgium on the 21st, before playing Egypt in Seattle on June 26th.
The Trump administration’s hardline approach to immigration has raised further concerns about whether the United States will be a welcoming host to fans from around the world.
President Trump has already announced that he will suspend visa processing for applicants from nearly 75 countries, including Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast and Senegal, which have teams competing in the World Cup.
However, residents of some of these countries do not need a visa to enter the United States for short-term stays.
On Monday, Sheinbaum explained that he had been approached by the Iranian team and FIFA officials to help bring in players and staff.
“The United States does not want the Iranian team to spend the night,” Sheinbaum said. “So they asked us, ‘Can we stay in Mexico for the night?'” We said, sure, no problem. ”
