Mexico Agrees To Host Iran’s World Cup Squad Amid US-Iran Tensions

Mexico has agreed to host Iran’s national football team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the United States reportedly declined to allow the squad remain overnight on American soil amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Monday that Iran would temporarily base itself in Mexico during the tournament to avoid possible visa restrictions and security complications in the United States.

Iran’s national team, which is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in American cities, had earlier disclosed that FIFA approved plans for the squad to stay across the border in Mexico between fixtures.

“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian team to spend the night,” Sheinbaum said during her daily briefing. “So they asked us, ‘can we stay the night in Mexico?’ We said sure, no problem.”

The Iranian squad is expected to use Tijuana, a northwestern Mexican border city, as its operational base throughout the tournament. The city will reportedly serve as a recovery and transit location between matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Iran, drawn in Group G, will open its World Cup campaign on June 15 against the New Zealand national football team.

Before the latest arrangement, Iran had initially been allocated Tucson, Arizona, as its official World Cup base camp, with all its matches expected to take place within the United States.

However, diplomatic tensions and security concerns surrounding Iranian officials and players have intensified following recent hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel after military offensives launched earlier this year against Tehran.

The uncertainty has increasingly overshadowed preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Earlier in March, US President Donald Trump reportedly suggested that Iran should consider skipping the tournament altogether due to safety concerns.

In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump stated that while the Iranian national team would technically be permitted into the United States, prevailing circumstances could make participation unsafe. “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote.

The development further highlights how geopolitical tensions are increasingly intersecting with global sporting events ahead of one of the biggest tournaments in football history.