Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her government has agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup. This decision follows a request from Fifa after the United States declined to host the squad throughout the tournament, even though Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group matches in the U.S.
As a result of the U.S. refusal, the Iranian team's training base has been moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, located just south of San Diego. The team will remain based in Tijuana for overnight stays to avoid U.S. visa issues. Iran has confirmed that Fifa approved the switch of the training base.
The move comes amid ongoing military tensions and chaos in the Middle East, including military attacks by the Trump administration, which led U.S. authorities to refuse the players' overnight stays on its soil. President Sheinbaum stated that she has no issue with Mexico hosting the team.