Mexico to Host Iranian Team During 2026 FIFA World Cup

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her country will host the Iranian national football team during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. According to Sheinbaum, FIFA had approached Mexico about hosting Iran after the US expressed its unwillingness to do so.

Sheinbaum stated that FIFA officials had previously met with Iranian football federation head Mehdi Taj and other representatives in Istanbul, as well as held an online conference with FIFA’s Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. As a result of these meetings, team leaders obtained approval for the move, which would allow the team to train in Mexico instead of Tucson, Arizona.

The decision comes amid tensions between the US and Iran, which have been ongoing since February 28. The US has not granted the Iranian team the necessary visas to travel to the country, despite Trump’s assertion that players and staff would be “welcome”.

Iran’s football federation had planned to move its training base from Tucson to Tijuana, Mexico, in order to avoid visa complications. This decision was made possible after FIFA officials approved the move.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has cast a shadow over the World Cup, with concerns about the team’s participation and safety. The conflict has resulted in significant human toll, with 3,468 people killed and over 26,500 injured since February.

The Trump administration has taken steps to suspend visa processing for applicants from nearly 75 countries, including Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. However, residents from some of these countries are not required to receive visas for short-term visits.

Sheinbaum explained that Mexico had agreed to host the Iranian team due to US reluctance. “The United States doesn’t want the Iranian team to spend the night,” Sheinbaum said. “So they asked us, ‘Can we stay the night in Mexico?’ We said sure, no problem.”

Source: Al Jazeera