Mexico Steps Up to Host Iran Amid US Standoff for 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, citing ongoing tensions with the United States as a key factor.

On Monday, Sheinbaum revealed that FIFA, the global football governing body, had approached Mexico regarding the possibility of hosting Iran, following the United States’ expressed reluctance to do so.

“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily media conference, emphasizing Mexico’s open stance.

Previously, Iran had been scheduled to play all three of its group stage matches within the US.

However, the administration of US President Donald Trump had previously deemed it “not appropriate” for Iranian team members to be in the country, citing concerns for “their own life and safety.”

Despite President Trump’s assertion that players and staff would be “welcome,” the necessary visas for the Iranian team to travel to the US have yet to be granted.

Since February 28, the US and Israel have been at war with Iran, and peace negotiations are tense but ongoing.

Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, confirmed on Sunday that the team plans to relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Taj elaborated that team leaders secured approval for this relocation following meetings with FIFA officials in Istanbul and an online conference with FIFA’s Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom.

According to Taj, shifting the team’s base to Mexico is intended to circumvent potential visa complications, enabling the team to travel directly to Mexico via Iran Air flights.

However, the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran has cast a shadow over the World Cup, introducing uncertainty regarding the Iranian team’s participation.

Reports indicate that approximately 3,468 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began in February, with over 26,500 injured. Additional fatalities have also been reported across the wider region.

The conflict has also significantly impacted the global economy, contributing to increased costs for essential goods such as fuel and agricultural fertilizer.

Iran’s national football team has consistently been a strong contender in its region, currently ranking among the top teams in the Asian Football Confederation. Their qualification for the 2026 tournament marks their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.

President Trump, however, has conveyed mixed signals regarding Iran’s presence at the World Cup, at times suggesting Iran should not participate, while at other moments expressing ambivalence.

For example, when asked by Politico in March about Iran’s World Cup participation, Trump reportedly responded, “I really don’t care,” subsequently referring to Iran as a “badly defeated country.”

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the games, with 78 matches, including the final, scheduled to take place in the US alone. The tournament is set to kick off on June 11.

Iran is slated to play its first two Group G matches in Los Angeles: against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. They will then face Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies have also fueled concerns regarding the US’s capacity to be a welcoming host for international fans.

Notably, President Trump has already initiated measures to suspend visa processing for applicants from nearly 75 countries, including World Cup participants such as Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.

It should be noted, however, that residents from some of these nations are not required to obtain visas for short-term visits to the US.

On Monday, Sheinbaum further clarified that both the Iranian team and FIFA officials had approached her for assistance in hosting players and staff.

“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian team to spend the night,” Sheinbaum quoted. “So they asked us, ‘Can we stay the night in Mexico?’ We responded, ‘Sure, no problem.’”

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