Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday, 25th of May, 2026 that her country will host the Iranian national football team during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, amid escalating tensions with the United States.
Sheinbaum said FIFA had approached Mexico about the arrangement after the U.S. declined to take on that role, and she stated her government saw “no reason to deny” the request.
The head of Iran’s soccer federation confirmed that the team’s base will be located in the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament.
The dispute stems from a broader geopolitical crisis following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began in late February, which killed Iran’s supreme leader and several other political and military figures.
Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj had previously stated that the team would not travel to the United States, citing President Trump’s own acknowledgment that he could not guarantee the Iranian squad’s security.
Iran had originally been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but the arrangement became untenable as uncertainty surrounding the conflict grew.
Iran’s participation in the 2026 tournament marks its fourth consecutive World Cup qualification, and the team currently ranks near the top of the Asian Football Confederation.
Iranian football chief Taj had previously declared the team would “boycott America, but not boycott the World Cup,” insisting Iran had no intention of withdrawing from the tournament entirely.
The move to Tijuana allows Iran to compete in the tournament which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada while sidestepping the diplomatic and security complications of entering U.S. territory.
