MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that her government has agreed to host the Iranian national football team during the World Cup. This decision follows the United States’ choice not to accommodate the team.
Sheinbaum stated that FIFA, football’s governing body, approached her administration after the U.S. declined to house Iran’s squad throughout the tournament, even though Iran will play all its group matches in the U.S.
Saying, “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum addressed this matter during her daily press conference.
The White House and the State Department have not yet responded to requests for comment.
In related news, Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, revealed on Saturday that the team would relocate from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament. He highlighted that this move would mitigate potential visa issues, enabling the team to fly directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
The Iranian team’s participation in the tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, faced uncertainty after U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran in late February. Iran’s matches in Group G include games in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.