Mexico to host Iran’s soccer World Cup team after US refusal, president says

By Reuters 25 May 2026, 6:50 pm

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Iran's national soccer team players stand onstage as they are greeted by a crowd during a pro-government gathering before their departure for training and friendly matches in Turkey ahead of the World Cup at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, May 13, 2026. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government agreed to allow the Iranian national soccer team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the United States did not want to host the team.

Sheinbaum says soccer’s governing body FIFA approached her government after the US said it did not want Iran’s squad to stay in the country throughout the tournament, despite Iran playing all three of its group matches there.

“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum says during her daily press conference.

The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, said on Saturday the team’s base would be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament.

Taj added that the move would help avoid visa-related complications and that the squad would be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.

The Iranian team’s participation in the June 11-July 19 tournament had been in question since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

Iran will play its first two Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.