Mexico to host Iran's World Cup team after U.S. refusal

Mexico Agrees to Host Iranian Squad

Mexico has agreed to host the Iranian national football team during the World Cup after the United States declined to allow the squad to stay. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the arrangement on Monday, stating that her government agreed to allow the team to remain in Mexico for the duration of the tournament.

President Sheinbaum stated that she has "no issue" with her country hosting the team. The decision follows the movement of the team's training base from the United States to Mexico for the summer soccer competition.

Relocation of Training Base

Iran announced that it will move its 2026 World Cup training base to Tijuana, Mexico. The squad was previously scheduled to be based in Tucson, Arizona.

According to the head of Iran's football federation, the move to the Mexican border city of Tijuana was made possible after soccer's world governing body, FIFA, approved a request to switch the location of the training camp. Other reports confirm that FIFA provided the necessary approval for the base to be switched from the United States to Mexico.

Diplomatic Context

President Sheinbaum noted that the United States was "unwilling to host" the Iranian team. The relocation of the training camp comes amid growing tensions between the United States and Iran.